With the last patches of ice and snow melting, the earliest flowers of the year are emerging in Fearrington’s gardens. For a brief window of time, visitors can enjoy an enchanting overlap of seasons- a last glimpse of winter’s red berries, wispy dried flower heads, and slender bare tree limbs, overlaid with the first lively colors of the new season.
Among the earliest heralds of spring are the Hellebores (Helleborus sp.), found in shady areas throughout the Village. Most of the gardens’ Hellebores are natural hybrids of the Lenten or Christmas Rose variety, producing a range of colors from creamy white to soft mauve to deep, velvety purple.
The largest patches are found beneath the Village’s stately pecan trees, and at the entry to the Fearrington House Restaurant path. Here, gardeners have removed last season’s foliage, allowing the emerging flowers to take center stage against a soft backdrop of fallen leaves and fluffy mulch. A related species, Bearsfoot Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), provides a bright contrast with its spikes of lime-colored blooms.
The first bulbs are also emerging, splashing the gardens with flecks of color. Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) bloom through snow in cold climates, and, in mild Piedmont weather, still give the illusion of flurries with their droplet-shaped white petals.
Crocuses (Crocus sp.) dot the gardens with shades of purple, yellow, and white. Many are the light purple ‘Tommies’ (Crocus tommasinianus), a species known to be less palatable to hungry rodents.
The first wave of the gardens’ plentiful Daffodils are also waking, from the familiar large-flowered cultivars to the lesser-known Petticoat Daffodils (Narcissus bulbocodium and N. romieuxii), charming miniatures with crinoline-shaped blooms.
And of course, a tapestry of Violets and Pansies (Viola cornuta and V. x wittrockiana) add their cheerful faces to the landscape. Planted last fall, they've endured the winter and are once again blooming in abundance with the first hints of spring warmth.
As days quickly warm and lengthen, the calm of winter will soon transform into the vibrant energy of spring. These first blooms of the season are fleeting, offering a lively glimpse of spring to come against a backdrop of winter's serene stillness.
Rachael, Fearrington Gardener
The Village Shops are open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am - 5pm.
