Warm shades of yellow and apricot shine against the dark soil of early spring. On many blooms, a central flush of purple provides a dash of contrast.

Northwest Garden Nursery, the creation of Ernie and Marietta O'Byrne, is a mecca for gardeners seeking choice and rare perennials, including Hellebores. The nursery is surrounded by extensive gardens, in which the combinations of flowers and foliage, shapes, and textures prove the O'Byrnes to be not only great plantsmen but also gifted designers. For those who cannot make the trip to Eugene, Oregon, we are delighted to offer a half dozen of their Hellebores, the result of more than a decade of hand-pollinated crossing and selection using seed strains from Europe, the U.S., and Australia.