Several Stinking Hellebores (Helleborus foetidus) I planted last autumn are flowering nicely- rather later than others I have seen but the roots probably needed time to settle in. The flowers and foliage have a faint musty smell; stinking and fetid is putting it a bit strong.

 As I have noted before H. foetidus is one of the relatively few plants that has green flowers. In the background (though out of focus) is another: Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae). Both are woodlanders by habit thriving among sunny glades and edges. It is said that the colours of flowers may have evolved to be most visible to pollinators at time of flowering. 

 The almost luminous green of the Stinking Hellebore and the lime green of Wood Spurge certainly do stand out against the mottled browns of earth and leaf litter.