Forever inspired by our mountains, I am planning on having something blue blooming in our Sugar Hollow garden at all times. To prevent me from going over the edge, the garden *will* be peppered with pale pinks, the occasional yellows, as well as oranges and reds from our daylily patch. I promise. But something about having the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background and bits of blue around our land makes for garden symmetry and continuity in my mind.

Here’s a glimpse into my blue-ish plant list, divided into what already exists and what I will hunt down in the coming springs. Each plant’s blooming times are included in parentheses.

Already Established ::

Various bulbs—glory-of-the-snow and dwarf irises (late winter and early spring)

Virginia bluebells (spring)

Siberian irises (spring)

Irises (spring)

False blue indigo (spring)

Love-in-a-mist (spring and early summer)

Speedwell (summer)

Salvia ‘May Night’ (summer)

Blue plumbago (summer through fall)

Blue hydrangea 'Endless Wonder' (summer through fall)

Butterfly bush (summer through fall)

Russian sage (summer through fall)

Wish List ::

Forget-me-nots (spring and early summer)

Phlox (early spring and late summer)

Bachelor buttons (spring and early summer)

Monarda 'Blue Stocking' (summer)

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' (summer)

Morning glory 'Heavenly Blue' (summer and early fall)

Caryopteris 'Grand Bleu' (summer and early fall)

Asters (fall)