In the Northern Hemisphere the Helleborus is known as the Lenten Rose, as it blooms in the period leading up to Easter. The timing of the Christian Easter is based upon the old pagan Festival of the Spring Dionysia, which was held on the full moon nearest the Spring Equinox. March 20.
This wonderful plant follows exactly the same rhythm in the Southern Hemisphere, starting to flower in late winter and continuing through to around the time of the Spring equinox, September 20. Sadly we in the south have never developed a festival to mark this "Southern Dionysia". Perhaps we should?
We have collected many varieties of Helleborus and right now they are at their absolute best, with the Equinox only ten days away and a full moon this week.
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