March

Hellebores may start flowering earlier but in March they are usually at thier best; they are very hardy. The flowers can have up to 60 stamens which unfurl a few each day and ripen with pollen.  

The flower will continue to mature over several weeks offering really good value for the bees. Also for March is the doronicum, which is one of the earliest flowering daisies and has thrived surprisingly well in the light, sandy soil of our bee-plot.

They are meant to like damp conditions so we will have to see how they cope with the dry summers?