We have come to that point in winter when gardeners are itching. Itching to get outside and dig in the soil. Itching to plant something. Itching to see the first colors of spring.
If only there were flowering plants that bloomed in our outdoor gardens in winter in central Ohio before the first crocus, daffodil, witch hazel and redbud blooms appear.
Spoiler alert — there are!
Gardeners eager to enjoy some late-winter blooms should consider planting hellebores, commonly known as Lenten rose for their rose-shaped flowers that appear during the Christian observance of Lent in late winter and early spring. There are about 15 species in the helleborus genus, with the most common being Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose) and Helleborus niger (Christmas rose).