Helleborus x ballardiae 'Pink Frost'

I'd almost forgotten about 'Pink Frost' since it is planted in the narrow side strip. It's too narrow to be called a side yard, it is barely 4 feet wide and is mostly just drainage from the roof. I planted 'Pink Frost' there because it seemed to be the best exposure. Previous locations had too much sun and it fried, and then too much shade and it didn't bloom.  I noticed it blooming today. It's probably been out for a week or two already.

See how narrow the strip is?

This was my very first hellebore, purchased when I lived at Casa Coniglio. It's supposed to be one of hellebores most tolerant of a wide range of conditions. It is  Helleborus x ballardiae, which is a cross between the species H. lividus (pinkish green flowers) and H. niger (the Christmas rose, with white flowers). H. lividus is said to be tough (I haven't grown it) and H. niger is said to be a bit temperamental (I did have one rot out on me even here in the desert). It is said to be a sterile cross. I've certainly never seen seeds or seedlings around these, although I have hundreds of seedlings around my H. niger cultivars. It's not a bulletproof as I've read, but then again, this is a tough climate. I think it is finally happy. I don't see it sold much anymore, although when I bought it, it seemed to be everywhere. I think people are more excited about the H. x hybridus cultivars now, which have much more color, but I think there's a lot of value in this one. 

Iris unguicularis 'Logan Calhoun'

Iris unguicularis 'Logan Calhoun' blooming with the warmer weather. Too warm for this time of the year. The roses and tree peony are already starting to break dormancy, which may get damaged by the later cold temperatures. But 'Logan Calhoun' is a pleasure to see, and if you bend way down to smell it, it is fragrant of hyacinths to my nose. 

Hippeastrum 'Painted Desert'

In the winter for 2013-2014 I made a cross of Hippeastrum 'Red Lion' and H. papilio. Only one of the seeds grew, but I kept it going. By the winter of 2015-2016, it bloomed for the first time, and I blogged about it here. I learned on the Hippeastrum forum on Gardenweb, that this was a particularly unusual cross due to genetic difficulties, and that this one grew particularly quickly. I'd be making many more crosses for fun if I had the room, but alas, I just don't have the time or the space. My sister dubbed this cross 'Painted Desert'.

This year I may have fertilized it too much, as the plant has become huge.

That's the thing about these plants. They need fertilizer but in small regular amounts. I suppose it's the same with all plants.

Four stems this year, three are in bloom now.

It doesn't have that great form or color, but it is exciting that it is one of my creations, and vigorous.

I think I like the backs of the petals almost more than the front view.

I don't think I'm going to keep most of my Hippeastrum. Most people just grow them for Christmas and then discard them. I have been growing them from year to year, but it's become too much work to haul the pots, which are getting bigger, in and out of the house, and also the spots in the garden where they are placed for the summer are getting planted up. I expect I'll keep 'Painted Desert' and also 'La Paz' but that's probably going to be it. 'Ruby Star' lacks vigor, the plants of H. papilio keep growing, but the flowers themselves get smaller and less numerous. 'Red Lion' seems to be diminishing. I'm still deciding on 'Minerva'. I'm going get Clivia instead, which I can grow indoors year round, it being a shade plant. Not that I need more plants.