I’ve been meaning to plant some hellebores to liven up my early spring garden. I’ve discovered some interesting things about them. Their name comes from the Greek words “elein,” meaning “to injure,” and “bora,” meaning “food.”
Every part of the plant is poisonous. It is said that Lucretia Borgia, the Renaissance femme fatale, cultivated them and treasured them, and that she had a hollow ring that she used to put poison in people’s drinks.
Hellebores are also supposed to have magical qualities. Hellebores planted near your door are said to keep witches at bay. They are even reputed to protect animals from evil spirits.
Speaking of intriguing plant lore, the following headline in the latest American Gardener magazine caught my eye: “Study Reveals Anesthetics Affect Plants.” Vivid, improbable images flashed through my mind of people in lab coats dosing geraniums and petunias with morphine. Or a crop-dusting plane spraying ether over a field of drowsy daffodils. Did the anesthetized plants experience less pain? How did the scientists ascertain this? For what purpose was this research done? I read on.
Apparently, a team of researchers from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic collected a group of plants that perform detectable movements when stimulated, like Venus fly traps (Dionaea muscipula) and sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica), a plant that closes its leaves when touched or shaken as a self-defense mechanism. They also tested peas (Pisum sativum), although I’m not sure what pea plants do when touched. Someone please let me know!
The scientists administered lidocaine and ether to various plants and then tested the plants’ responses to touch. The drugged plants just sat there and acted stoned! The fly traps let flies come and go; the sensitive plant left its leaves wide open to predators. I can only imagine the conversation that took place between them, something along the lines of “Wow, man…my leaves are like…I’m…wow…”
The researchers also anesthetized the seeds of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) in a petri dish and found that the germination process was slower, as was the production of chlorophyll. Gardeners who are starting plants from seeds should take note: do not sprinkle your seed trays with anesthetics.
There was actually a purpose to this research, besides personal amusement. These types of plants might be able to replace laboratory animals in testing new anesthetics. The study concluded that “plants emerge as ideal model objects to study general questions related to anesthesia, as well as to serve as a suitable test system for human anesthesia.”
I wasn’t serious when I suggested that plants actually talk to each other. But turns out I’m wrong about that. A new book, “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate — Discoveries from a Secret World” (2016), by German forest ranger Peter Wohlleben, reveals that trees are social beings. Wohlleben describes how plants nurture each other by sending out excess carbon; feed each other by sending out a sugar solution through their roots; and communicate by ending electrical signals across fungal networks. The book has been an international best seller.
But back to the hellebore. Even if you’re not concerned about fending off witches and evil spirits, hellebores are a welcome addition to the garden. The most common, Helleborus x. hybridus, sometimes called “Lenten rose” has handsome, dark green leaves and gently nodding five-petaled blossoms that come in many beguiling colors, from pale green to pink to deep red and almost black. There are also double-blossomed varieties.
Hellebores bloom from February to May and prefer part shade. They do well beneath deciduous trees that will leaf out in spring, providing shade from harsh summer sun. Like Lucretia Borgia, deer have figured out that they are not to be ingested.
Are you interested in growing food in your urban or suburban landscape? You can grow sweeter and more nutritious produce than anything you can buy in a store, but it’s essential that you start with healthy soil and learn the basics about garden design.
On Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m., Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston will host a workshop on designing and creating attractive gardens filled with ornamental plants and nutrient-dense edibles while using sustainable and organic practices.
Ben Barkan, owner of HomeHarvest — Edible Landscapes and Construction, will discuss soil health, site preparation, sustainable land-use techniques and how to maximize garden productivity while harmonizing with the landscape. Member: $20/nonmember: $30. For more information and to register, go to towerhillbg.org
This is the time of year to explore vernal pools, those fleeting wetlands where frogs, salamanders and other amphibians begin their life cycles. These shallow pools collect water in the winter and spring but dry out and disappear in the summer.
On April 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, Kestrel Trust is hosting an exploration of vernal pools on Mount Warner Reservation in Hadley led by University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental conservation professor Scott Jackson. He will explain the science and mystery behind vernal pools.
The group will bring equipment for gathering and viewing fairy shrimp, salamander eggs, tadpoles and other creatures up close. The walk will include several moderate climbs up hill to reach the pools, so be prepared for a hike.
This is a great family event to learn about the creatures that depend on the vernal pool — before it vanishes.
The program is free, but limited to 25 participants and registration is required. For more information about location and registration, go to: kestreltrust.org.
This month’s Hitchcock Center Study-all-year club will also examine vernal pools. Drop-ins are invited to join the group, which will meet April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon with Molly Hale. The cost is $30. For more information and to register, go to; hitchcockcenter.org.
This is an ideal time of year to transplant and plant shrubs and small ornamental trees. On April 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge is hosting a hands-on workshop with Ken Gooch, the Forest Health Program Director for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and a Massachusetts Certified Arborist. Gooch will demonstrate all aspects of successful planting, and participants will assist in transplanting a multi-stem shrub and planting a small tree. Gooch will explain the importance of correct timing and placement and techniques designed to create minimal disturbance and ensure smooth transition to a new site. He will also discuss the differences between bare-root, container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees and the importance of siting for ideal growth conditions.
Participants should dress warmly and bring pruners and work gloves; dress for the weather.
Cost: members: $15/nonmembers: $25. For more information and to register, go to berkshirebotanical.org.
Mickey Rathbun can be reached at mickey.rathbun@gmail.com.