Clematis: What's this I wonder?, 1 by ClematisGuru

ClematisGuru wrote:
pulled the leaves and mulch back just checked the hellebores.....they have fat, reddish green shoots emerging. covered them back up as it is very cold here. hostas barely emerging, but the helles new shoots are about 2 " out of the ground.

covered them back up and hurried back in to get warm!
here is a vase of hellebores from last spring. can't wait to see them this year!

of course, the hellebore is the same family as the clematis...but you knew that, right? according to mary toomey they can even be cross pollinated. you can see some of the similarity if you look at the back of the flower (no sepals)...and think about clematis cirrosa freckles, almost looks like a hellebore, doesn't it?