POLEMONIUM SONIA’S BLUEBELL

The slightly fragrant, pale blue flowers of this hybrid variety of the hardy Polemonium, or Jacob’s Ladder, make their first appearance in the garden in Spring, but manage to keep on flowering into Summer too.

BLUEBELLS

English bluebells, looking like a small forest beneath giant trees.

BEECH TREE AND BLUEBELLS

Beech tree and bluebells, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire.

MICHAELMAS DAISY

The Michaelmas Daisy, or Aster, is a plant that shouts Autumn, despite not being of the fiery hues we become used to in the borders at this time of year. This lovely clump was photographed at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire.

ERYNGIUM – BLUE SEA HOLLY

The Eryngium, or Sea Holly, is one of the plants I would love to grow in my garden but cannot. Since it needs excellent drainage and full sunshine it cannot cope with my heavy clay soil and the abundance of trees that block the howling winds. However, this plant was one of many growing very happily at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, its striking metallic blue stems and flowers blending effortlessly in the vibrant borders.

FIELD SCABIOUS

I love the pale blue, almost lilac, flowers of the common Field Scabious – Knautia arvensis – which is known as the Pincushion flower. This specimen was growing in a wildflower meadow in the grounds of Scarborough Castle.

GERANIUM ‘MAYFLOWER’

This is one of the early flowering Geraniums, Mayflower, a lovely soft blue with a pale eye.

BLUE BELL

A single blue bell from, naturally, a bluebell.

KNAPWEED

This Knapweed – Centaurea montana- has bright blue flowers that look thistle-like and quite delicate, but they are extremely tough and give a lovely splash of colour amongst the more common yellows of Spring.

FORGET-ME-NOT BLUE

The pale blue flowers of the forget-me-not brighten up the Spring days, but the plant can seed a little too vigorously so that the following year they smother everything else.