Poinsettias have a long andinteresting history, becom-ing the number one indoor

potted plant grown in the worldtoday. The many new varietiesand colours produced each yearkeep them at the forefront as aChristmas season plant. In theNorthern Hemisphere, however, they are a verylong crop for growers and require a great deal oflabour and energy to produce. A huge amountof research and breeding work has been done todevelop new varieties that can not only finish incooler temperatures, but also be more durable tosurvive both indoors and out.

For years now, I’ve been on a quest to findalternate cool season plants that could be analternate to poinsettias and still have a connec-tion to many of our Christmas traditions. TheChristmas Rose, helleborus niger, is certainlyone of the top candidates.

Over the past few years, greenhouse grow-ers have been refining their production timingand forcing them into bloom at slightly highertemperatures in order to have those beautifulhelleborus blossoms open for the month ofDecember. In zones 6 and above this works wellas an outdoor garden or patio container plant,but in zones 5 and lower they need more protec-tion. The challenge is to find a room cool enoughfor them to last indoors.

In Europe, winter blooming hellebores havebeen very much a traditional Christmas gift forsome time now. The Heuger family has been at

the forefront of new breeding to develop betterearly winter blooming varieties that could be en-joyed over the holiday season. The concept wasto develop a series of plants that would naturallybloom in progression from November throughMarch. If they were gently forced into bloom atslightly higher temperatures, they could providea long lasting flowering plant that could be en-joyed indoors then set back out into the gardento be enjoyed for many years to come.

Out of this research came the “HelleborusGold Collection” which displayed many newcharacteristics. This collection all bloomed onfirst year plants if they were started at the righttime. Second, they provided lots of blooms thatproduced over a long period of time, and third,the blossoms were all forward facing for a farmore striking appearance.

Some of the first varieties have now been onthe market for a year or so, with many moreabout to be introduced this winter and nextspring. Helleborus niger ‘Jacob’ (zone 4) haspure white flowers with a slight pink blush incooler weather. I love their deep burgundy stemsand the blossoms have a faint perfume, whichmakes them ideal as cut flowers. It is one of theearliest blooming hellebores and has the tradi-tional glossy deep green foliage.

Helleborus niger ‘Joseph Lemper’ (zone 4),one of the very earliest to bloom, has very largepure white blooms that appear slightly turned,facing upwards. As the blooms mature, theyturn an attractive green. The foliage is very at-tractive, and a rich, dark green.

Helleborus niger ‘Pink Frost’ provides a nicevariation with its burgundy and white buds thatburst open to a lovely soft pink which darkens

with age. As the blooms open in sequence, beau-tiful shading, from white to pink and red, takesplace. Even if it never bloomed, its scented deepgreen leaves, unique vein display and marbledsheen rivals any evergreen perennial.

Some of the new varieties being released thisyear are H. n. ‘Cinnamon Snow’ (zone 5), withits creamy white flowers touched with rose and

cinnamon. The buds also have a red accent andas the blooms open, they create quite a show. Theleaves are very scented and rich green, provid-ing a nice contrast to the blooms.

You are going to see the first major releaseof these new hellebores across the country thisholiday season, so do watch for them in yourfavourite garden centre.

REVIEWHome ShowcREEVVIEWVVAn alternative to the poinsettia for ChristmasIN THE GARDEN Brian Minter

Friday, December 10, 2010 Tri-City News 35

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Once again, the local community has proven it is comprised of generous, giving people.

Th ey donated thousands of coats and warm articles of clothing – including some brand-new purchases and handmade items – to the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Associa-tion’s 15th annual Coats for Kids campaign. All donations will go to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau and other charitable organi-zations, which will ensure the coats and clothes are given to those who need it most.

Black Press community newspapers off ered most of its Metro Vancouver newspaper offi ces

as drop-off sites for the GVHBA initiative and amazingly, brought in 1,500 coats for the cause.

“Coats for Kids was embraced with over-whelming enthusiasm by our staff and by our readers,” says Black Press senior vice-president of sales and marketing Candy Hodson.

“It is so heartwarming to see the profound impact we can have in supporting charities at this time of year.”

At Cintas – ‘the uniform people’ – that sentiment was echoed by general manager Henk Colyn, who provided a Cintas truck to transport the mountains of clothing Black Press collected.

“Our strong community awareness has

always been driven fi rst and foremost by our partners from the community,” he says.

“But it is through eff orts and partnerships, such as with New Local Home and Black Press and Coats for Kids that our partners can really see what the combined eff orts of many can do.”

GVHBA president and CEO Peter Simpson says this will likely be a record-breaking year, with more than 3,000 coats collected; the fi nal tally is still being counted.

“Every year, the public responds very gener-ously. Th ey open their closets and their hearts,” Simpson says.

“We’re very pleased to see the support and the generosity. What a great response.”

’Tis the season: giving is in

Cintas pitches in to help Black Press donate the 1,500 coats the company collected at its Metro Vancouver offi ces for the GVHBA’s Coats for Kids campaign. Clockwise from centre: Cintas general manager Henk Colyn, Rod Ivey, Maureen Rutherford, Jacob Hansma and Megan Procopioprepare to hit the road with the warm clothing. Tricia Leslie photo

Th e Vancouver Heritage Foundation is hosting its fi rst-ever Laneway House Tour this weekend, and if ticket sales are any indication, it’s already a success.

“We’ve pretty much sold out. I think there might be 20 tickets left ,” VHF executive director Diane Switzer said Monday.

“For many people, this will be their fi rst look inside a laneway house. Laneway housing was only approved a short time ago (in Vancouver), so now we’re seeing the fi rst batch of laneway homes out of the 100

building permits that have been approved.”Six houses are on the tour, ranging from

traditional to modern in all diff erent sizes, Switzer says, and notes that only laneway houses that have been constructed behind existing houses are on the tour.

Part of the VHF’s mandate is to keep city streetscapes as unchanged as possible, but because laneway houses are behind the main home, on the lane, they can help add residents without changes to the streetscape, Switzer says.

While laneway homes can range from 200-250 square feet to nearly 1,000 sq. ft . – depending on the size of the existing lot – the homes on tour range from about

500 to 750 sq. ft ., she says, in one- and two-bedroom designs.

“I think people are interested to know what it would be

like to live in (a laneway home), or people who already live in small spaces can come and get ideas for their own interior design,” Switzer says.

“Th is might be something some hom-eowners want to do in their own backyard, whether for renters or for a family member.”

Th e tour happens at select homes in Van-couver on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $50 ($25 tax receipts issued upon request).

Project teams will be on-site to discuss each home and there will be Christmas light displays, hot chocolate and cookies.

Visit www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org for details – and to fi nd out if there are any tickets left .

Martin Knowles photos

READERSCARE

Light up the lanes: the Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts the fi rst-ever Laneway House Tour Saturday

36 Tri-City News Friday, December 10, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010 Tri-City News 37

38 Tri-City News Friday, December 10, 2010

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40 Tri-City News Friday, December 10, 2010