This morning I’ve been in the gravel garden having a tidy up of all my pots and planting this beautiful hellebore that I bought the other week. Just as I was admiring the blooms and my pot choice a tiny bee landed plonk into the middle of the biggest flower, my work here is done I thought. I’m always trying to help the bees as much as I can by choosing open flower varieties that they can access easily. Too many ruffles leave them confused. 
There are winter flowering shrubs I love like viburnums and honeysuckle, winter honeysuckle has the most incredible scent! But the hellebore is like a shining beacon. I left a beautiful collection behind at our last garden so I’m on a bit of a mission to introduce them here. In fact, the longer I’ve been gardening, the more time I spend planning the garden for winter interest. Beautiful grasses and verbena heads are left to collect frost and catch the low light. Winter flowering shrubs are planted and structures are considered. Styling the garden for winter with old zinc plant protectors, vintage gardenalia and time worn statues. But I digress.
If your garden is lacking this winter then plant a hellebore, you won’t be disappointed! They spread too once they get established 😁 and the bees will love you for it!