Nothing gives winter the boot like the first flowers of spring. And hellebore is one of our favorites.

As tough as they are pretty, these herbaceous perennials bloom in the winter in mild climates and in very early spring where it's cold. Plant them with bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, Virginia bluebells, trillium and other spring ephemerals for a spectacular spring show.

Though they are not fussy and are fairly easy to grow, spring-blooming hellebores (often called Lenten rose) tend to look best when allowed to bloom in the absence of last year's tired foliage. To keep hellebores looking their best, keep plants watered well without allowing the soil to get soggy, and remove spent flowers as needed. Topdress planting beds with compost annually or apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring when new growth appears.

The legend of the Christmas rose: The night of the birth of Christ, Madelon, a little shepherdess, saw the wise men laden with gifts. Madelon thought she had nothing, not even a single flower for this newborn exception. An angel, seeing her tears brushed the snow, revealing a beautiful white flower shaded with pink: Christmas rose.

Since ancient Greece, the hellebore is considered as a medicine against demons and possession. Small pieces of root of hellebore in the ear of a sick animal are supposed to protect it from evil spirits. Hellebore was commonly planted near the entrance of houses to prevent evil spirits from entering. The plant still has a power protection in general. A vase of hellebores in a room is designed to eliminate unpleasant atmosphere, to make way for peace.

In the country, the Christmas Rose was regarded as a flower of oracle. Twelve flower buds were traditionally put into some water at Christmas. Each bud stood for one month. The way the buds opened was supposed to be a sort of weather forecast for the New Year. Closed buds meant bad weather, open buds indicated good weather.