Camassia ~ a favorite early bloomer ~ delicate, star-shaped flowers.It's been raining. A lot! Which is very odd in a high plains desert and that's inspired a few Midwestern Moments. Been gettin' all reminiscent about those wasted years when I lived in Minnesota. When most every outdoor plan we'd have was foiled by bad weather.
Dainty little Brunnera (flowers the size of your fingernail) lays claim to a shady spot in my yard.Back home it's okay to bitch about the rain. Rains every damn time you get on your bike. Out here, it never rains (or so they say) and so I have to keep my trap shut.
The bluest and latest blooming of my Lilac Menagerie has a wonderful fragrance after the rain.But it has inspired a cool, blue mood in my garden.
The crazy hairdos of Centaurea MontanaIt's hard to find true blue ~ especially at my place since my alkaline soil does it's level best to change everything blue into purple and pink. (Acid soil does exactly what I'd like it to do but I'm not moving back to Minnesota to achieve this goal.)
Here's the latest gamble I planted with fingers crossed I might see true blue:
These Gladiator Alliums are supposed to be deep blue/purple, not pink. And, they're supposed to be 6-inch diameter flower balls (as opposed to 3 inches.) But, I still think they're kind of cool.* Aluminum Sulphate or pine needle mulching are other ways to make your soil more acidic. Though it hasn't worked all that well for me...
I like blue batchelor buttons. They are so darn cute and they re-seed every year. Another favorite in the Caryopteris - Dark Knight. I think it's called Blue Mist Shrub. Those are spectacular. I have a blue hysop, but I can't remember the name. This rain is making for great perennials!
ReplyDeleteErnie Sue
And, Flax. That one seems to love it out here. Now if only we could grow true blue Hydrangea...
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, on the subject of soil acidification, have you tried composted cotton burrs or grape pomace?
ReplyDeleteHi, Jim;
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Haven't a clue what grape pomace but it sounds intriguing. Fill me in... :)
Down south here in Prescott, we have three wildflowers that are blue. The flax, of course, Then there's the occasional delphinium (I have a secret place here in town). And last, the pretty little blue day flower, 1st cousin to spiderwort, but as blue as you can get.
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