the early summer blues, (and purples/lavenders)

This dose of light rain here the past few days has
made everything look so fresh and clean, and nothing
sparkles quite as much as the color blue or purple
with some raindrops.  Some of the things currnety
blooming in my garden include a lowly Plectranthus
species, P. neochilus.  This is one of those amazingly
accomodating low groundcovers/herbaceous evergreen
perennials that will grow in full sun or fairly deep
shade, with regular garden watering or only twice
monthly, and continue to bloom heavily almost all
spring through late fall.  The appearance is more lush
and less massively flowered in shade, and almost
competely covered in purpish blue flowers in full sun.
 The one down side for those with sensitive noses is
the pungent odor released when watering or brushing
against it; it smells like either skunk or marijuana,
take your pick!  

Another Pectranthus in bloom over an equally long
season is P. zulusensis, a pale lavender bloom on a
larger, leafier herbaceous shrub.  This one will only
take drier conditions in some shade, and blooms best
with bright warm shade, all year round in mild areas.
This one is still little known in the trade, and was
brought back from South Africa by nurseryman Gary
Hammer of Los Angeles.

I always enjoy the understated good looks of the
Duranta erecta/Pigeon Berry in my garden, which is a
small leafed compact form, with pale sky blue flowers
in arching sprays, on a 4 to 6 foot tall shrub which
looks very much like a glossy leaved boxwood hedge 
left unpruned.  (No one else seems to share my
interest in this shrub, as it is usually ignored by
most visitors!).  

Next to this is a collection of purple and lavender
spikey blooms, including Buddleia alternifolia, which
arches above and over the Duranta, and massiveley in
bloom in June, July and August, with  a purple
Alstroemeria below, mingling with lavender and white
annual species Impatiens balfourii, Francoa
sonchifolia(lavender spikes to 6 foot tall on thin
stems which appear to be suspended in the air at
dusk), and the bamboo like stalks of Dianella
ensifolia beyond, with its deep purple berries just
coloring up now.  The Dianella intermedia in the front
garden is also loaded with berries, just starting to
color as well.  The purple pea shaped flowers of the
shrub Polygala x dalmasiana are also part of this
composition, and continue in bloom nearly year round
when the others seasonal accents have come and gone. 
Also contributing some deep purplish blue notes are
Brunfelsia pauciflora var macrantha.  I wish I could
get this to bloom all year for me, as it is gorgeous
when in full bloom, but seems to demand a heavier
feeding regimen than I am prepared to give it. 
Clerodendrum ugandense is also in full bloom at the
moment, even in fairly dense shade.  

In the sunnier parts of the garden, the Plumbago
auriculata "Royal Cape' is blooming nicely. Lastly,
the Blue  Clock Vine/Thunbergia grandiflora is just
coming into bloom, and rewards with draping clusters
of deep blue open trumpet flowers.  Add the few subtle
notes of some blooming Tillandsia bergeri and
T.strictas hanging in the tree branches, some blue
flowering annuals like Browalia and Lobelia, and
perennials such as Verbena bonariensis and Aster x
frikartii 'Monch' and the list of garden blues,
purples and lavenders are complete for early summer.  
 

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