January is not a flowery time of the year although there is plenty of (ever)greenery. Nonetheless Hellebores are in full flower, notably our native Stinking Hellebore (Helleborous foetidus). In southern climes the foliage is pretty much evergreen and the green flowers luminous in bloom.

 NB Here is a mystery. The example seen above is in the rock garden at the music school. Indeed H. foetidus self-seeds prolifically all over the grounds and through the beds. Barely twenty metres away there was a lovely glade of them by the woodland walk, fifteen or so healthy specimens. All gone! 

 I did a double take when I walked past the spot today. No sign of disturbance, it's hard to imagine anyone would have dug them up and made off with them. No reason to think they wouldn't have overwintered, everywhere else in the vicinity they are going great guns. The species is classified as a short lived perennial but renews itself readily from copious seed production. If the older plants died off I would expect to see seedlings and younger plants round and about but no.

 Deer enter the grounds and munch certain plants but Hellebores are generally reckoned to deer proof as they contain toxins which make them unpalatable to mammals. In fact the Stinking Hellebore doesn't stink but it does release an odour when the foliage is crushed. It's tough as old boots so slugs and snails are not a problem. 

 Moreover the seeds have an appendage which is an elaisome i.e. an oil body that is eaten by snails. Thereby some of the seeds get stuck to the slimy body of the snail and distributed in the locality. Hopefully this stand of Hellebores will be renewed.