Also, where can I buy hellebores plants online as opposed to bare roots?

Are you sure they came from Heronswood?
I have purchased many Helleborus from them and all were healthy plants in pots.
Once had a problem, when the carrier crushed the carton and damaged some of the plants. They replaced them immediately without question.
My one experience with bareroot Helleborus many years ago, was same as yours. Roots were so dried that none produced new growth. Replacements produced the same result.

No, I stand corrected. I ordered from the dreaded wayside gardens, it appears. Woe is me. So are bareroot hellebores just not the way to go period?

Let's put it this way - purchasing bare root would be my last choice of method of acquiring hellebores. These plants simply do not like having their roots exposed or manipulated for any length of time and bare root perennials are typically harvested and then stored for a undetermined period of time until sent out to consumers. Plus, bare root starts tend to be small plants that would benefit from potting up and growing on under controlled conditions before planting out in the garden.

FWIW, evergreen plants (including perennials like hellebores) do not really go through a similar type of dormancy as do deciduous or fully herbaceous perennials. Certainly, growth slows at specific times of year, but they continue to photosynthesize and will require sufficient moisture and other proper growing conditions to do so. Planting tiny, little bare root starts, already stressed from being bare rooted, at the beginning of summer in less than ideal soil conditions and with minimal watering is a sure recipe for failure.

As to Heronswood hellebores......I have purchased countless hellebores from Heronswood in the past. This was one of the premier suppliers of hellebores and has been responsible for the introduction of several outstanding selections. However this was the ORIGINAL Heronswood Nursery, located just up the road from me, and before its takeover by Burpee's. Since the old nursery was closed and operations moved to Pennsylvania, I have avoided any transactions. Primarily because I don't do any mail order if I can get the plants elsewhere but also because of the way the closure of the original Heronswood was handled and the fact that George Ball (Mr. Burpee) then assumed credit for all the range of plants and hybrids - including their current selection of hellebores - that were developed and introduced by the original owners.

I'm not discouraging anyone from purchasing from Heronswood - I just choose not to. You can also purchase potted hellebores by mail order from Sunshine Farms, Pine Knot Farms, Plant Delights Nursery, Bluestone or various other suppliers. But the popularity of hellebores has grown so much in recent years and since Helleborus x hybridus was named Perennial Plant of the Year for 2005, these plants are readily available in season at most retail nurseries. Even the big box stores.

Thanks gardengal. I didn't realize there was so much history behind these plants!

I actually called Wayside gardens and they are sending 7 replacements- not that they will be successful but at least I have a "second chance" to get some other things right.

I am carefully considering my purchases for next year and plan to carefully vet (as much as is possible online)the supplier of any plant. Gardenweb is surely a treasured find as the posts have been informative for people like myself who jump in and ask questions later!

Thanks for the info- hopefully others will read and put it to good use too.