The Lenten roses provide the last attraction in the street garden.

"They survived," she said, noting that her Lenten roses have already bloomed.

Lenten roses - hellebores, named for their normal pre-Easter bloom time - blasphemed against nature with unseemly display at Christmas.

Nor must I forget hellebores, the various species of Christmas and Lenten roses (though they are not roses at all, but members of the ranunculus family).

Nurserymen have tried for many years to cross H. niger with oriental hellebores (Lenten roses) H. x hybridus to increase the colour range available.

Soon the Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) chime in with their graceful flowers in dappled shades of mauve, chartreuse, chocolate and other colors no language can name.

In the northern hemisphere, they flower in early spring, around the period of Lent, and are often known as Lenten hellebores, oriental hellebores, or Lenten roses.

In spring there are carpets of blue and white wood anemones and pink and plum-coloured Lenten roses while the orange bells of crown imperial fritillaries make a bold statement.

Running through the Lenten roses and the arums is a tide of golden creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia aurea), to brighten up the corner with its touch of rich golden chartreuse.

More easily established is the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis).

My other hellebores, which are made of tougher stuff, include the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), which is just coming into bloom.

Because it blooms a bit later when spring settles in, the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), another showy hellebore, is gaining great popularity.

Perennial plantings at the site include marginal wood fern, autumn fern, lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), Virginia bluebell, and woodland sedge.

Groundcovers including Asarum, Athyrium, Cyclamen hederifolium, Dryopteris, Helleborus orientalis, Hosta, Lysimachia, Marrubium, and Pachysandra.

Purple, Pink or White Flowers in March to May. Large Saucer Shaped Flowers. 2ft £3.80 2L Helleborus orientalis niger "Christmas Rose".

Presently we have Helleborus Orientalis, Joy Bouquet, Niger, White Magic, Sternii, Wester Flisk and Arquitifolius, looking their best in full bloom in the nursery display garden.

From February onwards you can count on Cyclamen coups to start making cheery splashes of pinky-mauve For a colourful spring-like effect, go for the showy Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) which starts flowering as soon as the weather turns mild.