The GOODS from Phoenix Perennials

Richmond, BC | Phoenix Perennials announces its fifth annual Christmas Hurrah! to be held Friday through Sunday December 4th to 6th, 2015 from 10am-3pm. This event will celebrate the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, and the Helleborus Gold Collection with fantastic hellebores and special holiday-themed workshops. Pictures of last year’s event can be viewed in the Albums Section on the Phoenix Perennials Facebook page here.

“We are really excited to combine new innovations in hellebore breeding with an old tradition from northern Europe to give the holiday season another option for indoor and outdoor decoration as well as gift-giving,” says Gary Lewis, owner of Phoenix Perennials.

The new innovation is the Gold Collection cultivars of the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, from the breeder Hueger of Germany that show incredible vigour and floriferousness relative to older forms. They also start blooming in November and December in our climate, earlier than the common Christmas rose. These new cultivars are named ‘Jacob’, ‘Jonas’, ‘Josef Lemper’ and ‘Jesko’.

The old tradition comes from northern Europe where the Christmas rose is brought inside the house in pots to grace Christmas tables and displays or given as party gifts over the holiday season just as we would with a poinsettia in North America. Unlike poinsettias, the hellebores can be planted out in the garden in spring for years of enjoyment.

“The Christmas rose is connected with the holiday season not just because it blooms in winter time but also because of a legend that the Christmas rose was given to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem by a young shepherd girl”, explains Lewis. “This young girl despaired that she had no gift as magnificent as those offered by the three kings. A passing angel took pity on the girl. From the rocky ground wet with her tears sprung the pure white flowers of the Christmas rose which she picked and offered to the Christ Child.”

At the Christmas Hurrah! attendees will be able to purchase blooming plants of Helleborus niger ‘Jacob’, ‘Jonas’, ‘Josef Lemper’, and ‘Jesko’ as well as other members of the Gold Collection such as ‘Pink Frost’, ‘Mahogany Snow’, ‘Maestro’, ‘Merlin’, ‘Monte Cristo’ and ‘Shooting Star’. They will also be able to take part in three different workshops and one do-it-yourself project involving the Christmas rose to beautify their homes for the holiday season.

Registrations are being taken online at www.phoenixperennials.com.

Do-It-Yourself Indoor Christmas Rose Container | Friday to Sunday Dec 4-6, 10am-3pm | Come any time during the weekend and set yourself up at our self-serve craft tables. Select your blooming Christmas rose reserved for you, choose a clay pot or a festive metal container and decorate it with organza, ribbon, moss and winter twigs. A trusty Phoenician will be nearby if you need help.

This quick do-it-yourself project is great for decorating your home at Christmas or for gifts to friends and family at Christmas parties and gatherings. You’ll probably want to do a few of them and you’ll probably want to bring a friend.

Christmas Rose Wreath Making Workshop | Sat Dec 5th, 10am-12pm | Wreaths were the first way flowers and foliage were used for decoration. Continue the tradition with Kate as she leads you through the creation of your wreath and then shows you how to use Christmas roses, Helleborus niger, and other fresh flowers in your wreath! Bring a friend to maximize your fun. You may bring greenery or twigs from your own garden to use in your wreath if you like.

NEW! Hellebore in a Handbag | Sat Dec 5th, 1-3pm | It’s come to this, fellow gardeners. We’re going to Hellebore in a Handbag for Christmas! With this unique project we’ll plant up a Christmas rose in a moss purse with some friends & add festive winter greens.

Christmas Rose Outdoor Container Workshop | Sat. Dec. 6th, 10-12pm | Wow your Christmas guests as soon as they arrive at your front door or enliven your patio with a fantastic outdoor winter container centred with a glistening Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, and other great perennials and shrubs that offer winter interest. Shelley will lead you in the design, planting and final decoration of your planter with winter twigs and greens.