This time of year, anyone who walks around my Bedford, New York farm always admires the beautiful hellebore flowers.
Hellebores come in such an artful array of colors, markings and formations, it’s hard not to love these fascinating perennials. Sometimes known as Lenten rose or Christmas rose, these plants are long-lived, easy-to-grow and thrive in shady locations. I’ve had hellebores in my gardens for many years, and I find it so rewarding to have blooms that start in March, and continue through spring until the end of May - to me, hellebores are must-haves for any gardener's collection.
Here are some photos of the hellebores blooming at my farm now, enjoy.
Hellebores are members of the Eurasian genus Helleborus – about 20 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. They blossom during late winter and early spring for up to three months. I have many hellebores planted around my farm.
Hellebores are widely grown for decorative purposes because they are easy-to-grow and are able to resist frost. It is common to plant them on slopes or in raised beds in order to see their flowers, which tend to nod.
These plants are best grown in organically rich, humusy, well-drained soils in part to full shade.
The bright green foliage looks so dramatic against the colors of their blooms.
After the first year, when the plant is well-established, hellebores are very resistant and require little upkeep.
Hellebores can reach up to 36 inches in height and width, so be sure to position hellebores in protected areas away from winter winds.
Here is a hellebore just about to open.
The leaves of most hellebores are leathery, shiny, and edged with shallow teeth.
Hellebore flowers come in pretty much any color ranging from pink to red hues, shades of green, white and yellow, apricot and even deep purple.
All parts of the hellebore plant are poisonous, including the seeds, so use caution when considering planting location. Hellebores are also deer and vole resistant.
Hellebores benefit from a moderate amount of watering. They like to be watered deeply enough to saturate the root zone but then not watered again until the soil feels dry to the touch. These plants are drought tolerant but quite sensitive to soggy soil.
Unlike the blooms of most other flowering plants, hellebore flowers do not consist of petals, but of sepals, which serve to protect the flower.
Here, one can see the stamens and the carpels – the delicate parts shielded by the sepals.
This hellebore has dark colored edges and well-veined undersides.
Hellebores also come in many varieties, from veined or picotee, and single, anemone or double flowers.
This single flowering hellebore variety is deep purple in color with burgundy leaves.
The stamens are long white filaments with bilocular anthers. Each flower can have many stamens.
Hellebores produce nectar to attract the few insects that are active at the time of year when hellebores flower.
These plants are not choosy about their insects, so all types can pollinate the flowers effectively.
Given the right conditions, hellebores will spread nicely in the garden and look beautiful through the season. Wherever you live, I hope you are able to enjoy some of the colors of spring.
We all know how important it is to drink water every day. In fact, the average adult should consume 64-ounces, or eight 8-ounce glasses, of water per day to keep hydrated and healthy.
Everyone here at my Bedford, New York farm drinks a lot of water. I have an excellent well water set-up, but in order to eliminate the use of large plastic water drums and limit the use of individual bottles, I use the Berkey Water Purification System. Each Berkey tank holds up to six-gallons of water and can filter more than three-gallons per-hour. I have one in every outbuilding and everyone loves them. Plus, these systems are so easy to use and maintain.
Here are some photos showing how the filters are changed - it takes just minutes to do, enjoy.
I’ve been using the Berkey Water Purification System for about four years. These Berkey systems are great. They are made of highly polished AISI 304 stainless steel. And, because they don’t need electricity to function, they can be placed anywhere in the home, used during travel or outdoor activities, and unexpected emergencies.
Each unit has two chambers. In the top chamber are these black purification elements, or filters, made of activated carbon. This Crown Berkey model holds up to eight purification elements. Each element is designed to purify approximately three-thousand gallons of water before needing replacement. Even with a good water system in place, purifying water further removes harmful pathogenic bacteria, unhealthy contaminants and impurities. And what’s left is the most healthful, delicious water.
Here are two new replacement black filters. Because of the effects that water deposits and contaminants have on the unit, it is recommend that these be changed every six months or as filtration speed slows.
After Carlos has emptied and cleaned the top chamber the system, he removes the black filters.
They are very easy to remove. Carlos unscrews them from the bottom of the chamber.
Here is the outside of the chamber once the filter element is taken out.
And here is the view inside the stainless steel chamber.
The next step is to prime the filter.
A thick tan rubber “priming button” is included with the replacement filters. It is is used to funnel water into the filter interior to saturate the media and flush out air and manufacturing dust. Carlos places the button on the filter and presses it against the faucet while the water runs slowly.
The exterior wall of the filter begins to sweat. After it sweats for about 10-seconds, it is ready to install inside the chamber.
That’s it – Carlos can now screw the filters back into place.
The entire process takes less than 15 minutes.
The lower chamber is also cleaned thoroughly and prepared for filling.
Carlos fills the chambers with water.
These purification systems are gravity-fed so there is no pump needed – just fill the chamber and it is all purified as it passes through the black elements. The easiest way to tell whether the elements are still functioning well or need changing – just add a teaspoon of food coloring into the chamber for every gallon of water. As long as no color goes through it’s good. This easy test can be done every few months.
The larger Crown Berkey Systems can hold up to six-gallons of water. It can also serve up to 100-people in one day or a family of six with regular use. This system is in my stable kitchen. It is used by my horse caregivers as well as the farm’s business staff. With such a large team, it is great knowing we are not using plastic bottles. Americans use billions of plastic water bottles a year with only a fraction recycled. I encourage everyone to cut down on their use of plastic to save our environment.
This one is in my Equipment Barn lunchroom, where the outdoor grounds crew gathers for coffee and midday meals. The large unit stands about 30-inches tall when fully configured.
The smaller Royal Berkey system holds 3.25 gallons of water and stands about 20-inches tall when fully configured – perfect for smaller families up to four. I keep this one in my gym.
Another Berkey System was placed in my Tenant House which is where my daughter, Alexis, and her children, Jude and Truman, stay when they visit – they are all big water drinkers and plastic-free. These systems are portable and easy to move, even when full.
I also keep one in my large Winter House basement. The Berkey Systems can easily purify ordinary tap water, but they are powerful enough to efficiently purify raw, untreated water from sources such as remote lakes and streams, which is helpful during natural disasters when treated water may not be available.
And here’s one in my Winter House kitchen. This one is on the rolling stainless steel cart right next to the sink. It is one of the most used at the farm.
This one is in my servery, just off the kitchen. Every unit is placed near a sink for easy filling and dispensing. I am so happy to use these Berkey Systems to purify the water in my home.
Easter is on Sunday, April 17th - that's less than two weeks away. The holiday coincides with the vernal equinox, which welcomes the new season here in the northern hemisphere. This year, why not celebrate spring with lots of beautiful new products for decorating, cooking, baking, entertaining, and more. I have so many wonderful offerings on Martha.com. There are also items from my collections at Macy’s, from Martha Stewart Wine Co., Martha Stewart Kitchen, iGourmet, Goldbelly, Wayfair, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, and 19 Crimes - so many terrific products that will delight your family, your friends - and you, too!
Here are some of my favorites, enjoy.
Whether you’re hosting Easter lunch this year, or visiting friends and family, these vintage-inspired jadeite cake stands from Martha.com are perfect for displaying desserts or creating beautiful tiered serving pieces. On Martha.com, you can shop all the wonderful products I’ve collected, curated, and designed over the years.
Chocolate eggs and candy are the quintessential Easter treats. This Easter Basket from iGourmet is packed with springtime specialties to share with loved ones. It includes artisanal chocolate candies, caramel robin eggs, cookies, and more.
There’s nothing like waking up Easter morning to the smell of warm, delicious pastries. These danishes bake up in your oven to flaky, buttery, golden brown perfection, and will make your home smell absolutely incredible! This pack from my Goldbelly Collection contains apricot, cherry, and cream cheese danishes.
Add Easter cheer to your home with my Easter Bunny Figural featuring a solid white ground and porcelain design. It’s created exclusively for Macy’s.
Perhaps you’d like to give a gift that keeps on giving – a subscription to my delicious Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon meal kits. Martha & Marley Spoon continues to be a great meal kit delivery service that’s full of delicious recipes and helpful cooking tips – especially now that we’re all spending more time at home.
Another offering from Martha.com – die-cut table accents that make wonderful place cards. You can also use them under flatware and glasses, scattered on your tabletop, or as an oversized gift tags.
Have you tried my delicious Chard from 19-Crimes? It’s so well-balanced and smooth. It will quickly become your favorite new wine. You can find it by visiting 19Crimes.com for a store near you. Work hard, play hard and drink Martha’s Chard.
I loves to serve a delicious roast leg of lamb at Easter lunch. These are D’Artagnan’s 100-percent grass-fed Dorset breed lambs pasture-raised in the Victoria region of southeast Australia. It’s available for pre-order now on Martha.com and will ship just days before Easter Sunday in time for your gathering.
Easter Sunday lunch wouldn’t be right without some of your favortie sides. My thinly sliced scalloped potatoes from Martha Stewart Kitchen are layered with generous amounts of parmesan cheese, baked in cream with lots of ground black pepper.
If you’re looking for charming spring decorations, my bird’s nest replicas are made from gathered bundles of natural twigs and decorated with pretty faux eggs—a lovely accent for Easter and spring tables.
Add a fresh touch of opulence to spring tablescapes with this set of Baroque salad plates from my Collection exclusively at Macy’s. They feature a delightful floral design complete with sculptural curves and gold-tone rims.
My Baroque Dinnerware plates add a more formal touch in all white with a gold rim.
At Martha.com, order my paperbound compendium of all my best holiday crafts ideas from early spring to late winter.
From our own Martha Wine Co., try this selection of chardonnays from Europe and South America. This trio includes a 2020 Vinum Africa Unoaked Chardonnay, a 2019 Bayshore Vintners Chardonnay, and a 2020 Balbo Estate Chardonnay from Argentina.
From Wayfair, you’ll love my Martha Stewart mini loaf pan bakers. They’re perfect for cooking individual bread portions. These bakers are not only functional but also stylish, designed with a colored stoneware finish and embossed outer stripe so you can take your dish straight from the oven to the table.
For all those spring baking projects, you’ll need some good bowls. These have wide and shallow shapes, are freezer-safe, and chip resistant.
The kouign-amann is a layered pastry of dough, sugar and butter from the French region of Brittany. When baked in the oven, the exterior caramelizes with crispy sugar while the inside remains tender and flaky. It’s absolutely delicious, and one of my favorite pastries.
This beautiful 24-inch forsythia wreath adds a colorful accent to any door or mantle, brightens your spring and Easter décor, and makes a unique housewarming gift.
This rustic yet refined set of 12 Seedling Wreath die-cut placemats available on Martha.com are a delightful way to create a charming seasonal table setting.
From delicate florals to figural bunnies and flowers, my Easter Collection has the essentials you need to dine, decorate and entertain in style throughout the spring and into summer. I hope you shop all my Collections today – I know you’ll find something for everyone’s basket.
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