An air of mystery surrounds the beautiful evergreen bloomer Helleborus Orientalis, commonly known as the Lenton Rose.

Associated with witchcraft, believed to cure madness as well as to summon crazy, one of the legends proclaims it the Christmas Rose, after its petals unfurled in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem.

Whatever the folklore, in the Northwest Hellebores start to flower in mid-winter, at a time when their subtly colored petals are a sight for sore eyes, continuing through the Easter celebration of Lent — the reason it’s also named the Lenton Rose. A member of the Ranunculaceae family, this hardy shade perennial provides lush ground cover throughout the year. Resistant to both deer and voles, they are relatively drought-tolerant once

established, providing an architectural element that enlivens woodland gardens that also include Ferns, Tiarella, Campanula, Alchemilla, Hosta, Phlox divaricata and Pulmonaria.

The popular Hellebore Tea, which takes place at Lake Wilderness Lodge on March 9, is co-sponsored by the Lake Wilderness Arboretum Foundation and the Late Bloomers Garden Club and benefits Lake Wilderness Arboretum. Visit LakeWildernessArboretum.org, email info@lakewildernessarboretum.org or call 253-293-5103 to volunteer, donate or become a member.