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Wednesday, December 26, 2007 The Braselton News Page 7A Hellebores: Deer-proof winter beauties Gardener’s Grapevine with Fil Jessee filwrites@aol.com If the lyrics for the Austrian- German folksong “Edelweiss” were revised to fit growing con ditions in north Georgia, the featured alpine “blossom of snow” would probably be hel lebores instead. Four species of this European and west Asian perennial are dependable midwinter bloom ers in our climate zone, great for shade, and totally distasteful to the local deer population. Like the much smaller edelweiss, a tiny sunflower relative that often pokes through mountain ice and snow when no other plant dares, hellebores are unaffected by our worst winter weather. In fact, they seem to thrive on it. As a bonus, the tough leathery foliage is attractive and palm-like and, so, the plants have year-round interest in shade. There, they are perfect companions to hostas, ferns, hardy begonias, other wood land perennials, and reseeding annuals like impatiens.. The best known of the Helleborus species is probably H. niger, popu larly known as the Christmas or Lenten rose. However, I’m not sure how it acquired the Christmas nickname, for it certainly doesn’t resemble a rose and seldom opens its first flowers until January and early February. On the other hand, the plants often begin to form buds as early as Thanksgiving. The individual flowers of the Christmas rose normally emerge light green and gradually fade to pure white. They are often speck led with orchid-like pink, purple, or burgundy spots near the centers. Hybrids, however, can display a similar range of color in the petals as well and some of the newest introductions are double. One of the best is called the “Double Queen Strain” with flow ers reminiscent of small sasanqua camellias. Another worthwhile assortment of hybrids is known as the Brandywine Strain, and fea tures mostly single blooms plus a few doubles of exceptional form in a broad array of colors. In addition to variations of the original Christmas rose, other spe cies offer special interest more in their evergreen foliage than in their flowers. These include the Corsican and Bear Claw helle bores, which offer finer textured palmate leaves on taller stems. SHADE LOVING PLANT Typically, most hellebores grow from 12-24 inches in height, and prefer dappled shade like that found beneath deciduous hard woods. And though they can hold their own in clay, all prefer a rich organic and acidic soil. If the dirt is well-drained and suitable for azaleas and rhododendrons, it’s generally just right for hellebores as well. In addition to the fact that these plants brighten the darkest days of winter, long before the first crocus show color, I appreciate the lon gevity of the individual flowers. While camellias usually drop petals after four or five days, helle bores hang on to theirs for an excep tionally long time. Consequently, hellebore blooms can remain in full glory from February to May. After that, the flowers will grad ually revert to green while still holding their shape. When this occurs, seed capsules often swell in the center of the flowers, even tually popping open and releas ing an abundance of small black seeds. Although artificial propagation of ripe hellebore seed is said to be difficult by some horticultural manuals, I find that mine frequent ly sprout pretty well wherever they land. Therefore, I always seem to have enough seedlings to share with gardening friends, or to trans plant to additional locations in my own back yard. It does take a while, however, for seedlings to reach maturity. Yet, I find that I can speed up the pro cess considerably by feeding the offspring liquid fertilizer in the fall and winter. That’s not a good time to feed most other perennials, but it’s perfect for hellebores since that is when they are in active growth. And I have further discovered that if I feed my hellebores with the same high phosphorous fertil izer I use for pansies in the fall, my plants will produce a greater abundance of larger flowers in December and January. Thankfully, I have never found it necessary to spray hellebores with deer repellant. Even when these animals are desperate enough to munch on English ivy and hydran gea tips, they seem to avoid hel lebore foliage and blooms without exception. PEST RESISTANT For this reason, I like to place hellebores generously among hos tas, which might as well be deer candy. It may just be a coinci dence, but it seems that the ani mals bother my hostas less when hellebores are in close proximity. And while hostas with softer leaves often wilt during the hot test days of summer, well-mulched hellebores seldom do, even under drought conditions. They are also largely impervious to rabbits, slugs, snails, and most chewing insects. If these plants have any weak ness at all, it’s probably in the fragility of their stiff stems and foliage. Hard rains, wind, and even pea-sized hail won’t hurt them. Playful dogs, small children, and falling tree limbs in spring and summer can, however, and dam aged foliage will not be replaced with fresh until late autumn. So, do keep this in mind in selecting optimum planting sites. Fil Jessee lives in Braselton, where he works as a freelance jour nalist. He is a Georgia Certified Plant Professional with experience in ornamental horticulture and landscape design. Reader ques tions relating to gardening can be sent to Fil at filwrites@aol.com. Author to speak at lunch and learn on Dec. 9 The Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library will host author Howard Garner for a lunch and learn session on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 11:30 a.m., at the Braselton Police and Municipal Court Building. Garner will discuss his novel “Pacific Escape,” a story about loss and redemption, guilt and escape, set against the backdrop of cherry blossom time and Japan’s conflicted memories of World War II. Garner lives in Richmond, Va., and is professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. He taught special education there for 26 years. The lunch and learn program is $5 and includes soup, salad, bread, dessert and tea. Bring one for chipper event set for Jan. 5 Now that you’ve got that Christmas tree up, Keep Jackson County Beautiful says it’s not too early to start thinking of how you will dispose of it when all the gifts are a distant memory. The organization will hold its Bring One for the Chipper recycling event Saturday, Jan. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trees will be recycled into mulch or used as wildlife habitat. Drop-off sites include the Lanier Technical College parking lot on South Elm Street in Commerce, the Jefferson Civic Center, the Jackson County Transfer Station, and the First Baptist Church of Hoschton. Those participating will receive a free dogwood seedling while supplies last. For information, call Susan Trepaganier, execu tive director of Keep Jackson County Beautiful at 706-708-7198 or visit online at www.keepjackson- countybeautiful.com. Airman Joshua Pearson completes basic training Air Force Airman Joshua D. Pearson has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Pam Pearson, Braselton, and is a 2006 graduate of Johnson High School, Oakwood. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military cus toms and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marks manship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. CARHARTT-LARGEST INVENTORY LOWEST PRICES ANYWHERE! One of Georgia’s largest Carhartt dealers. Winter clothes just arrived! CARHARTT COATS, PANTS, BELTS, CAPS, GLOVES, VESTS, THERMAL UNDERWEAR, INSULATED & UNINSULATED OVERALLS & COVERALLS Carhartt IF CARHARTT MAKES IT, IRVIN’S HAS IT! Sizes from 2T for kids to 60 and 4XXXL IRVIN’S STORE & HUNTING SUPPLY Located 6 miles South of Baldwin on Old 441. Look for the signs. 4964 Hwy 441 N, Baldwin • 706-778-6116 Hours 9:00-5:00 Mon-Sat, December Hours: Sun 10:00-4:00 SELECTING A WINNER Jackson County Habitat for Humanity board members (L-R) Bonnie Jones, Stan Beeco and Dee Lavender watch as Jackson County Sheriff Stan Evans pulls the winning playhouse raffle ticket from the barrel. Habitat for Humanity playhouse winner named Just to keep it “legal,” Jackson County Sheriff Stan Evans was asked to do the honors in the drawing of the winning raffle ticket for Jackson County Habitat for Humanity’ playhouse. After turning the barrel over several times to make sure the tickets were well mixed, he looked at the ceiling, stuck his hand in the barrel and pulled out the winning $10 entry — Sandra Fite, a Jackson County resident and MainStreet Newspapers employee. The playhouse was built by members of the Jackson County Habitat board to raise funds for the county’s eighth Habitat house. Construction was supervised by board member Stan Beeco, owner of Beeco Building Contractor, Inc. Board members had several weekend work days to complete the 8’ x 10’ 6” playhouse that sports a front porch, dormer windows and flower boxes. The playhouse raffle raised more than $3,500 for the construction of a decent, affordable home for a deserving Jackson County family. Sgt. Robert Powell completes basic training Army Sgt. Robert J. Powell has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Powell earned distinction as an honor grad uate of the course. He is the son of Bob Powell, Hoschton, and grandson of James Kerby, Lawrenceville. The sergeant graduated in 2001 from Jackson County Comprehensive High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2007 from North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayo net training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. uivt imv% Hi i Braselton’s jfi] Private 24-Hour m 1 Adult Co-Ed Fitness Center offering Personal Training Nutritionist Cardio Equipment and Flat Screen Televisions Free Weights Secure Facility with 24-Hour Access Sports Rehah The latest equipment from and HAMMER STRENGTH Full Circuit Training Ab Classes Pilates Classes coming soon! Make your New Year’s Resolution come true this year! 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