First and foremost

Among the earliest perennials to bloom every spring — or even late winter — are hellebores.

Although they don’t inspire the fanfare enjoyed by popular bulbs, such as crocus or daffodil, I highly recommend them.

They prefer partial shade, resist deer and other pests and require little maintenance. And the flowers might just take your breath away.

In recent years, plant breeders have introduced hellebores with new features such as double petals; outward- rather than downward-facing flowers; and colors beyond the traditional pink and maroon, such as yellow and dark-slate.

This time of year, you might find them starting to bloom under trees, in shady corners or in woodland gardens.

Worth remembering

Smithsonian Gardens would like “your help in preserving the fleeting history of gardens in our country by contributing images, stories, videos and oral histories related to gardens and gardening.”

Gardeners and garden lovers are invited to learn more and join in at https:// communityofgardens.si.edu.

“Whether it’s the story of your own garden, the memory of your grandmother’s garden, a plant that plays an important role in your life, or a community garden in your neighborhood, we want to hear (and see) your garden stories!” the website says.

Small but mighty

An easy way to add yearround impact to landscapes large or small is with dwarf conifers.

“Whether they’re intended for use in containers on a patio or sited in a rock or crevice garden, miniature and dwarf conifers lend an architectural sense of permanence, even in the smallest of spaces,” according to American Nurseryman magazine (www.amerinursery. com).

Among the varieties it profiles are:

■ Blue Star juniper, with bluish needles and a spreading growth habit

■ Glauca Globosa spruce, with bluish needles and a rounded form

■ Glauca Prostrata dwarf blue Spanish fir, with young green needles that turn blue and a low growth habit