Getting the blues

[Plocket]

Hurrah my cornflowers are starting to flower:

[Chuckles]

Love the Cornflower P that really is a lovely blue

My first Morning Glory, planted loads but only two plants have survived being devoured

I know I've said this before, think it was to Skarloey but they really do look like they have a light shining out of the middle

[Plocket]

I've never done well with Morning Glory - there's too many slugs in our garden. Mind you a friend found a toad in her garden recently and asked if I wanted her husband to catch it and transport it to my garden coz it gives her the heebiejeebies. I'm torn coz I'd love to have a toad, but it seems so cruel to re-home him.

[JennyWrenn]

I sowed some cornflower seeds Plocket and nothing happened -
I think will just let Nigella reseed every year

[Plocket]

I'm going to try and save some of my cornflower seeds and scatter them amongst my yellow flowers. Mum wants some too for her meadow. I've grown a wildflower mix in a pot and they are doing beautifully

[bagpuss]

Haven't got a pic unfortunately, but one of my favourite blue flowers is a gentian - unfortunately, I have tried to grow them twice and both times they die on me.

[nightowl]

bagpuss said:

Haven't got a pic unfortunately, but one of my favourite blue flowers is a gentian - unfortunately, I have tried to grow them twice and both times they die on me.

That always happens to me too BP I bring a lovely healthy plant home from the GC, and it's all downhill from there!

[Tig]

First half-decent pic of my seaholly - doesn't seem to capture the metallic blue very well!

[Tig]

Sunny day - snapping pretties!

[Rosefriend]

That is a lovely pic Tig - I can just imagine a large clump of them.

I don't like the colour blue at all except in the garden where there are some gorgeous blue tones.

One that I love is the Plumbago auriculata - it is a blue that is seldom found.



RF

[Tig]

That's a stunning blue indeed RF!
I have a photo of a blue hydrangea taken at Biddulph Grange which is a very strikning blue - although I only took it's pic - but wish I had it my garden! Should I post the photo? Tig

[nightowl]

That Plumbago is an incredible colour RF! Is it really that Ice Blue that it's come out in the photo?

That's the nearest to a turquoise flower I've ever seen!

[Rosefriend]

Yes please Tig - I love flower photos - have around 4000 pics on my PC .... have just upped my PC to 120 GB because I love photos so much.

RF

[Rosefriend]

nolawn said:

That Plumbago is an incredible colour RF! Is it really that Ice Blue that it's come out in the photo?

That's the nearest to a turquoise flower I've ever seen!

I am amazed how true the colour has come out - yes it really is that colour and I love it - elegant somehow.

RF

[Tig]

Blue Hydrangea (as mentioned earlier)

[Rosefriend]

That really is a gorgeous blue Tig.

My Hydrangea is purple - by that I mean it hasn't decided whether it wants to be pink or blue - the soil is obviously neither acid or alkaline, - probaly due to what I put on it.

RF

[Susie Snowdrop]

rosefriend said:

That is a lovely pic Tig - I can just imagine a large clump of them.

I don't like the colour blue at all except in the garden where there are some gorgeous blue tones.

One that I love is the Plumbago auriculata - it is a blue that is seldom found.



RF

There's some gorgeous plants here but, RF, the Plumbago is something else

S x

[Rosefriend]

Thanks Susie - the plants itself isn't too good this year with all the rain but at least it has flowered which I am so pleased about.

RF

[Shrubrose]

That is an exquisite colour RF. Think I'll scout around for the plant and if it'll grow here I will add it to my list.

[Rosefriend]

Hi Shrub - well it will have to be looked after during the winter months - it is definitely a Tub plant. It can stand a little frost but I would never risk it here. USDA Zones are 8B-11.

A neighbour of my Mum's years ago had an enormous one - it was magnificent and he popped in into the GH for the winter.

I have to put it in the cellar - it loses it's leaves but it does pretty well when I bring it up in February again.

RF

[nightowl]

Glad you said that RF, I was all set to get one! I thought, if it can survive in Germany, it'll be ok here!

I don't have a greenhouse or conservatory, and no space for one. Plants have to take their chance outside, and it's surprising how many come through it ok (begonias, geraniums)

Used to try and keep stuff in the plastic mini-GH, but they always rotted and have more chance outside. ;D

[Shrubrose]

I will definitely give it a go then. Cant say I've ever seen it at the GC's but just might not have been looking for it if you know what I mean?

[piggingardener]

Blue, blue, my world is blue.....

[Chuckles]

I know this is pinky/purpley but I just love the bluey flower stems, flower centres and the blue of the centre flowers

[Rosefriend]

Especially for Nightowl.

I was just waiting for my hardy Plumbago (perennial) to start flowering - well what with the lousy weather it isn't doing much so I have included a Web pic as well.

This is 'Ceratostigma willmottianum Forest Blue', in my garden - last year it was splendid and will cope with our temperatures, although I do cover it up a little.



and this is a web pic of the same plant.



I know it isn't quite the same as the annual below but it is still a good alternative.



RF

[nightowl]

RF, they are all lovely but did you say the last one, the one I admired before, is an Annual? I thought you said that was a Plumbago, and I didn't think they were an annual?

Or am I getting confused

[Rosefriend]

You are quite right Plumbago isn't an annual - I meant it in the sense that it can only be kept in a very mild climate, - which of course makes it an annual for me.

I am happy that it can cope with a dark cellar in winter instead of a light cool room which I haven't got.

RF

[JennyWrenn]

Plumbago is one of the prettiest flowers around shame it doesnt stand our winter climate otherwise I would have a couple growing up my pergola ;D

[JennyWrenn]

Am sure this changes its colour every week - today it is mostly blue and really pretty

[Shrubrose]

Jenny, what is your hydrangea called? I've been looking for this type for a while and only ever come across the globe types in the garden centre. Yours is such a lovely shade of blue.