Not Only Violets Are Blue: Part 1

A gardener sings the blues—that is, talks about all her beautiful blue plants

Hi GPODers !

Wednesday can bring on the midweek vapors , but Kathy Schreurs is help us see “ blue ” in a whole new light .

I ’m Kathy Schreurs from northwest Iowa , where our hardiness geographical zone has always been 4b . The USDA now describe us as being in Zone 5 . I ’ll trust it when my hydrangeas — which die out back every winter — in reality pull round to blossom on older woodwind !

My husband and I hold out in an old house on property that was quarrel in a Supreme Court vitrine in 1895(learn more about that bewitching case here).An Irish immigrant win against a railroad fellowship , and the rest is Sheldon , Iowa , history .

It ’s been an super long spring by our northwest Iowa standard : I spotted my first crocus mid - March , and other predecessor of spring ( Virginia Campanula rotundifolia , lungworts , brunneras , and forget - me - nots ) were just blooming their last on Memorial Day . The long enchantment of nerveless , often showery conditions went by uninterrupted by March blizzards or May heatwaves . There ’s been meter to slow down and enjoy the color of spring . I ’ve remark that while roses are crimson and violets are drear , several other early arrivals are blue(ish ) too .

I ’ve been adding crocuses and other ephemerals to a dower of our lawn for several seasons now , and I was delighted when my granddaughter took up the exercise last pin . One of us break that there is a Dutch parole to describe this — stinzenplanten — which seems apt since it ruminate our inheritance .

Yet another treasured trivial crocus in Kathy ’s lawn — I believe a case of early crocus ( Crocustommasinianus , Zones 3–9 ) .

My first Virginia bluebells(Mertensiavirginica , Zones 3–9)were deal by my sister / neighbour about 15 years ago , and they ’ve made their way around to other shady locations on our prop . My baby moved several year ago , and we agreed latterly that I should return the favor since she has none at her raw house .

A timeless colour combination — Kathy planted yellow bulbs next to her Virginia harebell , creating a pop of cheerfulness against the ocean of blue flowers .

I ’ve encourage ‘ Chocolate cow chip ’ ajuga(Ajugareptans‘Chocolate Chip ’ , Zones 4–9)to wrap up itself around a hosta bottom at the front of the firm . I love the river of drab it brings to the spot in the spring . This will be the first time of year without a large linden tree offering shade overhead , and I ’m come to that the genus Funka will fire . My preferred tulip is ‘ Spring Green ’ .

Another blue beauty in Kathy ’s garden is lungwort . This potpourri ’s flowers are strikingly standardised to Virginia bluebells , but the classifiable foliage gives it away as aPulmonaria .

I ’m hoping that the native pasqueflower(Pulsatillapatens , Zones 3–9)I planted last summer will take off , but it had a pugnacious spring . A daytime or two after it emerged and get going blooming , the region opossum — since relocated — champ it off .

Also Modern last year was a bicolor columbine . This springtime it was altogether blue. 🤷 ‍ ♀ ️

My ‘ Jack of Diamonds ’ brunnera(Brunneramacrophylla‘Jack of Diamonds ’ , zone 3–9)caught more Dominicus than it like last summertime , so I was happy to see it thriving this spring . It live on in the shade of an older lilac .

Kathy had so many blue plants to show off , we ’ll be back spill the beans the blue with her tomorrow !

Have photo to share ? We ’d make love to see your garden , a particular collection of works you love , or a wonderful garden you had the hazard to inspect !

To submit , send 5 - 10 picture to[email protected]along with some data about the plants in the pictures and where you took the pic . We ’d roll in the hay to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are gallant of , failures you learned from , hopes for the future , favourite works , or amusing stories from your garden .

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