Tall Hellebores

 Hellebores, also known as lenten roses, strike me to be introverts. They are happy in less-noticed corners of gardens, partly protected by a shrub or half hidden along a fence. Their drooping blossoms are best appreciated at the level of a robin searching for a worm. My friend has a fine crop of a newer, taller-stemmed variety. They still don't turn their faces up to the sun, but it's easier to admire the petals and examine the complex, decorative centers. I will return soon to enjoy them, along with their shyer cousins, before the days lengthen and the blooms disappear.