Blue Danube' Flows Beautifully In Garden
Mary Claire Rowe
Stokes Aster "Blue Danube'' (Stokesia laevis), a blue-violet flower of incredible beauty, obviously loves the "Rainbow Border" in our IDEA Garden, because it blooms from June to August.
The delicate color belies its hardy nature, and only when the hot weather begins to pound our world does it start to slip away for the duration. Pale blue flowers of this shade are rather rare in our garden schemes, so this plant really stands out. I love its powder-puff shape and early-morning-sky color.
Since I love blue, I envision the perfect flower bed. It would be filled with "Blue Danube'' and wonderful Salvias, such as "Victoria Blue,'' "Black and Blue,'' "Indigo Spires,'' "May Night,'' or "Blue Angel.''
The delicate color belies its hardy nature, and only when the hot weather begins to pound our world does it start to slip away for the duration. Pale blue flowers of this shade are rather rare in our garden schemes, so this plant really stands out. I love its powder-puff shape and early-morning-sky color.
Since I love blue, I envision the perfect flower bed. It would be filled with "Blue Danube'' and wonderful Salvias, such as "Victoria Blue,'' "Black and Blue,'' "Indigo Spires,'' "May Night,'' or "Blue Angel.''
“BLUE DANUBE’’ -- Perennial likes full sun to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun. USDA Hardiness --12.2 degrees. Space 12 to 15 inches apart. Grows 12 to 18 inches high heat and drought tolerant. Average water, needs well-drained, moderately damp soil. Water regularly, but do not over-water. To propagate, divide by root ball or sew seeds. Fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds. Deer resistant. Needs to be dead-headed to encourage repeat blooming. Named for botanist Dr. Jonathan Stokes and 18th century English physician.
It would also have "Sky Flower,'' (Duranta repens), "Texas Bluebells'' (Eustoma grandiflorum), "Rocky Mountain Columbine'' (Aquilegia caerulea), "Spiderwort'' (Tradescantia sp.) and any other blue flowers I could find. These are just some of my favorites.
All would be blooming at the same time, making a gorgeous pallet of blue. My dream garden is almost a reality, for there in the "blue" section of the "Rainbow Border," are many of the blue flowers I mentioned, plus many more.
It is arranged so that something blue blooms throughout the year. Of course, if you like red, orange, white, or yellow flowers, you will find flowers of those colors there in the "Rainbow Border" as well. The plan of a rainbow of colors is a lovely concept, beautifully executed.
Many of the flowers in the IDEA Garden are bulbs, and the Smith County Master Gardeners are having their annual Garden Conference at the Rose Garden Center and the famous Bulb Sale at Harvey Convention Center Sept. 8.
The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. The bulb sale runs from 11:30 until 3 p.m.
Go to http://grovesite.com/mg/smg for more information about this Master Gardener event. It is considered one of the best, if not the best, bulb sale in the South. It is an event not to be missed. And while you are in the area, don't miss an opportunity to visit the Tyler Rose Garden Complex and enjoy all the flowers.
It is worth a trip, even in the heat.
All would be blooming at the same time, making a gorgeous pallet of blue. My dream garden is almost a reality, for there in the "blue" section of the "Rainbow Border," are many of the blue flowers I mentioned, plus many more.
It is arranged so that something blue blooms throughout the year. Of course, if you like red, orange, white, or yellow flowers, you will find flowers of those colors there in the "Rainbow Border" as well. The plan of a rainbow of colors is a lovely concept, beautifully executed.
Many of the flowers in the IDEA Garden are bulbs, and the Smith County Master Gardeners are having their annual Garden Conference at the Rose Garden Center and the famous Bulb Sale at Harvey Convention Center Sept. 8.
The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. The bulb sale runs from 11:30 until 3 p.m.
Go to http://grovesite.com/mg/smg for more information about this Master Gardener event. It is considered one of the best, if not the best, bulb sale in the South. It is an event not to be missed. And while you are in the area, don't miss an opportunity to visit the Tyler Rose Garden Complex and enjoy all the flowers.
It is worth a trip, even in the heat.
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