I’m Kathleen Shelman, and I’ve gardened on our acre in Corbett, Oregon, for 35 years. I love using blue in my garden, so here’s a sampling of blues throughout the year. I used to be more picky about what I considered a true blue in my color combinations, but now I include anything that’s close.
My bottle bush is surrounded by ferns in summer, but it really shows up in the snow.
The very first blue of the spring is an Iris reticulata (maybe the variety ‘Harmony’, Zones 5–9).
Grape hyacinths (Muscari aremeniacum, Zones 4–8) have colonized an old staircase where children once waited to catch the school bus.
Naturalized scilla (Scilla siberica, Zones 3–8) and Anemone blanda (Zones 3–9) contrast with yellow Erythronium oregonum (Zones 5–8).
Clematis ‘Multi-blue’ (Zones 4–10) uses a fig tree for support. I typically do not have good luck with the clematis family, so this one was a nice surprise.
The pale blue of Gallega officionalis ‘Lady Wilson’ (Zones 5–8) lights up a sea of green.
A Veronica spicata (Zones 3–8), on the left, is complemented by a very large Campanula (probably Zones 4–8) on the right. Both of these plants have been moved a few times. They were inherited from the previous gardener, Faith Mackaness, so they are at least 40 years old.
I love blues/purples with orange, as with this seedling Geranium (Zones 5–8) and Hemerocallis ‘Rajah’ (Zones 3–9).
In August, hydrangeas edge what in spring is the bulb garden. Here are Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Tellers Blue’ and ‘Ayesha’ (Zones 5–9).
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Comments
Love your garden. The bottle bush was great. I used collect those bottles loved them colour. Thank you for showing us.
Love these gorgeous blues!
Love the geranium with the daylily.
Kathleen, what a fantastic garden!! I love, love, love all the blue hues. It's a nice change / addition to "the usual". I've always loved the juxtaposition of pairing blue with green, orange, and other colours often considered not a nice match to blue. Way to go, I say. Keep up the great job you're doing in your lovely neck of the woods. Katherine from Ontario, Canada :)
Just delightful!! I love combining blue/ purple with orange and yellow. Your combinations are wonderful and make your garden sing! Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
What a lovely garden! I have a bottle tree with only blue and clear bottles and love yours. The old staircase with the grape hyacinths is so charming.
Love all the blues. That's always my first choice when offered options! I plan to research that great clematis- I always have room for one more! Thanks
The Grape hyacinths growing on the old steps is just fascinating to see- great photo!
I just love your bottle bush aka bottle tree and all of your blue shades of flowers in your garden!
I've never heard of Gallega officionalis ‘Lady Wilson’ and I'm excited to have learned of the from you- they are so pretty.
Oh and such a big healthy Clematis! Wow!
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