Knowledge and Inspiration from Sam Jones

Don't blink while driving through Bishop, Georgia, because there is a hidden jewel close by.  The breathtaking gardens of Piccadilly Farm are filled with hellebores, conifers, ferns, and ruscus which will bring a smile to your face.
 
Dr. Sam Jones was so kind to give me a tour and the history of his love of horticulture during a hot June afternoon.  I learned that his enthusiasm for plants comes honestly, beginning with his family's florist and greenhouse business. 
 
Growing up in North Fulton County, Dr. Jones was given a piece of land in his young teens where he started his own woody-plant nursery.  Reminiscing about his earliest business, he said, "Everything was grown in clay pots back then, but I had an agreement with the high school cafeteria to give me their empty #10 cans."  He saved money this way and, by the time he was a junior in college, he had earned enough to buy a brand new Chevrolet!
 
Dr. Jones built upon his passion for plants and science, earning his Ph.D. in botany. He spent 30 years as a professor. When it was time to retire, by all means, he wanted to stay busy.  At that time, Fred C. Galie, horticulturist at Callaway Gardens, told Dr. Jones that hellebores and hostas were going to be the plants of the future.  And so began Dr. Jones' fascination with hellebores.  Cobbham residents will be interested to know Dr. Jones' first hellebores came from a grad student living in that neighborhood with a yard full of them.
 
In the 1990s, Piccadilly was the largest producer of hellebores in the U.S.  At that time, they had 6 employees and Dr. Jones worked 6-7 hours per day.  Recently, due to a lymphoma, he has cut his hours back to 4-5 hours per day.  Let me tell you, this man amazes me!  He has gone through chemotherapy and radiation and out-walked me during my tour of the Hellebores Trail, created by his wife, Carleen Jones.
 
Mrs. Jones planted thousands of hellebores in a beautiful wooded area with stone lined paths meandering through...nature at its finest.  The only things I could hear were the birds singing and the purring of Dilly, the cat, who came to greet us.  In the beauty of the trail, it's easy to forget a thriving business is only a few yards away.  
 
Hellebore is an evergreen plant which blooms during the late winter and early spring.  Many people refer to them as Lenten Roses because they bloom during the 40 Days of Lent  Blossoms can range in colors from white, green, light pink to a deep maroon.  After they have seasoned on the stalk for a few weeks, they can be used as cut flowers in an arrangement.  If you cut them too early, they will wilt. 
 
I had two questions from readers for Dr. Jones to answer.  The first was, how do you keep white hellebores from turning pink?  He quickly told me white hellebores will always be white, but the seedlings they produce may be pink because of their highly diverse genetic background.  So, if you want to keep your white hellebore beds pristine, he recommended that you dig up those seedlings and plant them elsewhere. 
  
And the second question was, how does Piccadilly propagate hellebores?  Dr. Jones explained that many are grown in seedbeds for 3-4 years and then the seedlings are put into 4" pots.  After another year, they are transplanted into gallon pots.  Piccadilly Farm uses mushroom compost, pine bark and sand as a growing medium.
 
If you want to propagate your own hellebores, take note: the seeds start out as a chalky white color. You do not want to use them at this stage. You need to wait until they have aged a bit longer and start turning black. Then, the seeds will be mature enough to germinate when planted.  When gathering seeds from an existing hellebores, do be careful and place a pot under the flower to catch the seeds because they fall out rather easily.
 
If you wish to divide your hellebores, the best time to do so is spring or fall.  Note that the roots run deep, so make certain you get a large root ball.  This is a great website with instructions and photos on how to divide your hellebores. 
 
Another specialty at Piccadilly is conifers.  Dr. Jones adheres to the saying, "You are not a good gardener unless you try different things."  He has had his share of successes and failures with conifers and only sells those that work here in Northeast Georgia.  You will find photos I've posted of rare and unusual conifers he has grown to spectacular results.
 
On my past visits to Piccadilly, I haven't been able to leave without buying a lush fern or two.  I love my Japanese Painted Fern, which propagates from spores.  And I just planted another Christmas fern, which is native to this area.  Dr. Jones' best suggestion for our locale is Autumn Fern, which is now at the top of my list when Piccadilly reopens in the Fall. 
 
When I next visit, I look forward to seeing Valerie and Bill Hinesley, Dr. Jones' daughter and son-in-law, who are beginning to manage  the business.  Valerie carries forth the family's love of plants through her work as a Landscape Architect. 
 
I'm sure you share my joy in knowing Dr. Jones will continue working at Piccadilly as long as he is physically able.  Let me reassure you, he won't be retiring any time soon.  His passion and energy were unmistakable even in the sweltering June heat.  And so he and his family will continue to inspire our gardening community for a long time to come.