By Lita Batho, January 16, 2026
A perennial favorite is getting ready to bloom in Portland: the hellebore! If you’ve recently purchased a home, keep an eye out for these low-to-the-ground flowers this month. Popular in Portland as an early spring bloom, you might be lucky to find some in your new garden.
These long lived plants’ best season is when they bloom in February through April with a variety of white, purples and pinks. Once they’ve bloomed, the foliage tends to blend into the garden until the following year.
Now’s the time: cut last year’s leaves
For tentative gardeners I like to mention that if you do nothing, they will survive, so don’t worry. To give them an extra boost, now is the time to cut off any older, mature leaves, to encourage new growth: as new flowers emerge, cutting off old foliage will encourage new growth, showcase flowers, and help prevent disease and pests. The plant in the image above shows the new growth with old leaves removed.
Second task- check out your roses!
One more task for early spring is to prune your roses. In this City of Roses, I find that many homes come with a rose (or a dozen) and new homeowners aren’t sure how to care for them.
When pruning, remove any tiny stems (smaller in diameter than a pencil). Another rule of thumb is to reduce the height of the plant by 1/3. You’ll be looking to create a shape like a cup, or an upturned hand, so trim off extra inward-facing canes. Lastly, cut an an angle, and look for new leaf buds, which will ideally face outward (think “cup like shape”).
For either job, always use clean, sharp pruners, and for roses it’s recommended to wash the pruning shears between uses, (or between plants) with soap and water to avoid spreading any disease.
Now is a great time to embark on these two small garden tasks: they take a just a few minutes and will provide an outdoor winter break.
Lita Batho
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
Lita has a genuine enthusiasm for navigating home purchases and sales with the intention of outperforming the market and making the process stress free and transparent for her clients.
"I began real estate as an independent agent, however during the pandemic, decided to accelerate my experience and build skills more quickly by serving as listing specialist for a highly productive, all-female team. Even though there were only 5 of us we were one of the busiest teams in the city, and over 2.5 years, I helped over 60 sellers successfully navigate the sale of various property types throughout the Portland Metro area. From condos and fixers to bungalows and homes with million-dollar views, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with a diverse range of clients, including seniors downsizing, young families seeking more space, and single women embarking on their next step.
While this experience was rewarding, having accelerated my experience, deepened my knowledge, and honed my skills, it felt natural to return to solo agency in early 2024. I'd missed the autonomy and agility that come with being a solo business owner, considering that I've been a business owner for the majority of my working life, and I was eager to leverage these qualities to further benefit my clients.
I firmly believe that whether you're buying or selling a home, you deserve genuine and excellent representation. My consistent client feedback highlights my strengths in setting proper expectations, negotiating, timely communication, and efficiency -- all while being kind, direct, and a dedicated advocate.
My goal extends beyond successful sales and purchases, however; I aim to earn my clients' trust, leading to their recommendations. The highest compliment I can receive is that a past client trusts me with their own friends and family."
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lita relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1995 and has lived in Portland since 2001. She has an small business background, and a zest for negotiation, having grown up in her mother's retail shops and selling Christmas trees for her dad. Lita spent several years as a steel sculptor and public artist in Seattle, as well gaining extensive experience as a yoga teacher. When not working, you’ll find her cultivating an ever-expanding flower garden, doing home improvement projects, making art, or hiking in Forest Park or the gorge.
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- litabatho@livingroomre.com
