Dear Gardeners:

It's hard to figure out why the color blue is associated with sadness... in the garden it's really a very cheerful and beautiful color. While some blue flowers are pale and icy, like the Delphinium 'Delft Blue,' many are bright and vibrant. The Siberian Iris 'Caesar's Brother' has flowers that are a distinctive shade of ultra-violet blue that stands out like a neon sign in the garden.

Despite having a reputation for being a rare and elusive color in the garden, blue flowers are always some of our most popular items. Blue flowers are always pretty no matter how you use them, but there are a few designer secrets to showing them off to their best advantage.

• Pay attention to undertones. Whether pure white or creamy yellow, pick up on those tones when creating combinations.
• Analogous colors soothe. Pairing blue flowers with pink, red, lavender, or purple keeps the scheme on the same side of the color wheel.
• Complimentary colors excite. Or match your blue flowers with orange, peach, or yellow, colors from the opposite side of the color wheel, for lively combinations that catch the eye.

Happy Gardening,
The Bulb Lady®