Horticultural highlight of the week (2014 week 14) - Mahonia (unknown variety)

The mahonia in our garden was already well-established when we moved here seven years ago, although it was crowded out by a tangle over overgrown roses and a 30ft leylandii (which we had removed immediately - as it was only 10ft from the back of the house.

Since then the mahonia has thrived, although I think it doesn't like shade - it against a north facing fence and grows out away from it as if its stretching for the light.

It's positioned right by the back doors - which means we are able to appreciate the amazing display of colour (and more importantly its heady sweet scent) even when its too cold to amble out into the garden in the morning.

Mahonia (unknown variety) in full bloom

The amazingly intense flowers are very short-lived lasting maybe just one or two weeks before they fade, however the blooms transform into delicate metallic purple-blue berries (probably poisonous) which reach full size by autumn.

The bush itself is a compact 4ft high dense clump of evergreen (but very prickly) leaves. The dead leaves do not break down well as they are thick and waxy like holly leaves, so watch out when clearing up underneath the bush - the leaves have been the cause of some foul language they are that sharp!

Another one I will be repeating in the new garden - I managed to take three successful cuttings last year - it seems to respond well to this. I also sends out shoots underground so small saplings appear all around it.

Of course I have some lovely macro shots of the flower buds taken in February as well as some of the opened flowers taken in early April. Macro shots were taken with my iPhone 5 and squidcam macro lens

Mahonia flower buds (closeup taken with squidcam macro)

Mahonia flower buds (closeup taken with squidcam macro)

Mahonia flowers (closeup taken with squidcam macro)

Horticultural highlight of the week (2014 week 11) - Hellebore (unknown variety)

Hellebores are actually the first flower to appear in my garden but they are a bit of a slow burner and (in my opinion) don't actually reach their full glory for several weeks after first appearing. The first hellebore flower appeared in January, and in mid-March they are still going strong and making an impact, even though they are now competing with narcissi, muscari and primroses.

The varieties in my garden were here when I arrived, purple, white and some pale purple and all clumped together - I've since separated them - they do well in shady spots so I've moved them to the side of the garden sheltered by the fencing. They're easy to dig up and replant - the roots are compact and loose and the plants seem to suffer no harm from being moved.

Helleborus (unknown variety)

They self-seed incredibly easily, in fact the areas around the mature plants are dotted with babies - they are almost weed-like in their proliferation. The tiny black mustard-like seeds are easy to collect. I usually just weed the offspring out - but as we are probably moving this year I am going to nurture a few of them to take with me - although I won't be sure of their colour pedigree until they flower.

Helleborus (unknown variety)

To allow the flowers to really stand out, I cut back all the previous year's evergreen foliage to ground level once the flower stems have reached full height. The foliage is usually starting to look a bit tired and ragged by then anyway. It doesn't seem to hard the plants - new foliage re-appears every year.

Helleborus (unknown variety)

Helleborus (unknown variety - white)

As is the rule for 2014, here's a squidcam macro shot of one of my hellebores.

Helleborus - close up of stamens using squidcam macro lens