"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. " ~Lindley Karstens

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Cool Blue

I love blue in the garden. Especially in the hot summer days, blue keeps me cool...

I have some blue flowers blooming right now in the garden. 

Blue daze, Porterweed and Mealycup sage are the ones that almost flower the all year long, maybe only stopped for a couple of coldest months.  I can count on them to add the blue into my garden. 
Blue Daze (Evolvulus)
Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea)
Every time I pass by this new Tropical Lilac, I just can not help touching its velvet leaves, and smell its wonderful scent. 
Troipical Lilac (Cornutia grandifolia)
This year I moved some African Lilies from a deep shade area to a partial sun area.  The plants in the new spot are growing fine, but have not set the buds yet.  The following is the one that was left in the original spot, but got more morning sun than the ones I moved.  I hope next year I can get more of these beautiful flowers in my garden.

African Lily (Agapanthus africanus)
This plumbago has the true sky blue color, which is quite rare in the plant world.  Don't you love this beauty?  It is new to my garden. 
Plumbago auriculata

I planted blue and purple verbena intermingled in the front yard.  When they all bloom, it just looks so lovely.

Verbena
Hope you are all having a good summer sunday, and keeping cool...

14 comments:

  1. Hi Ami,
    Just looking at all those blue flowers cooled me down a notch. Whew... it's been SO hot. I don't have to tell you though since you are even further south than me. We've been spending lots of time in the pool the last few days.

    Blue daze is such a handy flower to grow in lots of sun. Mine did not come back after the frost but I had to get more this spring... they are so carefree. When you first posted the tropical lilac I did some research as it is one I would love to add somehow. It seems it does better south of us. But if I ever run across one I might give it a whirl just in case I can fool it.

    I've been digging up porterweed seedlings all over the garden. They really do act like a weed. Trying to keep only a FEW for the butterflies is almost impossible.

    My Agapanthus are blooming everywhere. I finally have divided them enough to enjoy blooms in almost every corner of the garden. Yours is lovely.

    Beautiful post, Ami. I better have another look at those pretty blue photos to get another cool breeze blowing my way.
    Happy Sunday.
    Meems

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  2. Ami,
    Your blue and purple Verbena do look good together.

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  3. Lovely blues in your gardens. They do tend to make one feel cooler. I've had a blue daze in a pot for 4 years now.

    I don't think I've ever seen the tropical lilac. I keep adding purples and blues to my gardens. We need them down here where it is so hot and humid.

    I love your verbena.

    Thanks for sharing these lovely bloomers from your gardens.

    FlowerLady

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  4. Lots of lovely blue ... but I particularly like that patch of Verbena. Such a great combination.

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  5. Enjoyed the breath of cool air from viewing all your blues. Blue is not a common garden color is it? All the more special to see so many blooming well in one garden. Nice picture of the butterfly on the porterweed. I have lots of porterweed and just purchased another red one to replace the red that didn't make it through winter. Surprisingly, that red one didn't have any seedlings sprout up. I pot up the blue seedlings and give them away. People love having it for their butterfly gardens.

    I think we will using early morning and late evening for gardening for awhile.

    BTW, the rose in my header is 'red cascade' which is a miniature climber on its own root. It was a pass-along from a friend. I do have knockouts though and they seem to be thriving under my novice rose growing care.

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  6. I love blue flowers too. Yours are lovely. I have them too except for the duranta.

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  7. Beautiful blues, Ami! They certainly are cooling to the eyes. I especially love the Lily of the Nile in my garden. What a stunner! I do wonder why true blue is such a rare color in blooms.

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  8. We can all use some cool blues these days. I love the blue daze with the flax lily...great combo. And, that tropical lilac...that is a real beauty. I hope I can find one of those. As usual, your pics are fabulous. Thanks for a cool summer breeze!

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  9. Hello Ami :) All of those blues are just delightful - you have inspired me to look out for more blue flowering plants. I don't think I've seen a 'Blue Daze' before, but now I'm going to have to look out for one!

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  10. Your haze of blue in the garden is so lovely - Have you got any nepeta in your garden mine is a huge clump of blue just now and the bees adore it........ cats do too

    Lots of garden designers plant blue towards the back of the garden as when the eye looks at it it makes the garden look longer.

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  11. It seems that June really is the month of blues and purples around here, especially because of all the lily of the niles all over! Very nice photography!

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  12. Ah, you've hit on some favorites of mine. I also love the blue flowers. I have several plumbago started that are all flowering and growing. I can't wait to see how tall they are in a month or so. I only have one lone Agapanthus but will add more. I put in a few small verbena but the lack of water almost killed them. The new microirrigation system is reviving them though, so maybe it is time for a few more.

    I don't know porterweed. I need to investigate them.

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  13. Hi Ami,

    I love how my blue, purple and pink flowering plants 'cool' my garden down....at least visually.

    I love the flowers in your garden, especially the Cape Plumbago....a favorite of mine :-)

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  14. hhmmm, never thought about that, but I guess having some cool blues must at least psychologically cool things down, right?

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