The color of the day... "purple"

What a spectrum of purple I found blooming today.
And it's one color that just doesn't photograph well.
For instance, the purple Cosmos are starting to bloom.
In real life, they are purple-ly.


Purple Cosmos ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


Then there's the Blue Pickerel. Which isn't really blue... but purple.




Blue Pickerel ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



And I'm still looking for an ID on this plant. (I'm going to let it grow some more before posting in on the ID forum again). Anyhow... this one is purple. No doubt about it.



unknown Salvia or Sage? ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


And this purple Salvia is such a deep purple. The color "black cherry" comes to mind.



Purple Salvia ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



And for the finale... a plant I originally saw in Toni's garden... and just had to have one/some! And it's what got me hooked on water plants. Ladies and gentleman... the first of 2012... the Louisiana Black Iris (and it is much blacker than this photo shows).



Louisiana Black Iris ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

 

Are you growing pickerel weed in a non-draining tub? Or just in the ground? How wet is the soil? I never was able to get it established-maybe it takes a few yrs.?

I call the flowers blue. And you call it purple. Regardless, the flowers are showy, and I had envisioned me at one time using a mass planting of this.

So, how long did it take to get established and what kind of soil?

 

Hi Cheryl,
very stricking colour on the Cosmos,..it sort of hits you with the brilliant colour,..your Blue Pickerel looks like my Lavender but still a nice colour.

That Salvia sure is a dark colour,..yep i agree very Black Cherry,..but i guess the winner is that Louisana Black Iris,..beautiful.

 

Gorgeous! Those are some of my favorite colors of blooms no matter if the are purple or blue. The 3rd photo is 'Victoria Blue' Salvia

 

i agree, netty, the victoria blue salvia, one of my favorite annuals!

 

Blissful.... the Pickerel is in one of my water container gardens that I set up last summer.


"Trough" Fountain finished ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )


I just planted it in some "yard dirt" in a dish pan and set that in the larger tub. The pink bloomed last fall, but this is the first time for the blue.


Thanks Eileen and Philip. It's real name is Louisiana Iris "Black Gamecock". I should try to use that.

Thank you for the ID Netty and Annette. It didn't have a tag and I swore I'd remember the name longer enough to get home and write it down. And... I didn't! It only had one tiny bloom last summer which made it hard to ID. Glad to know what it is now.

 

Hi Cheryl,
your Trough looks great,..do you have any fish in there?.

 

Cheryl, I believe your mystery plant is Texas Bluebells. Pretty sure. Wish everything was in bloom here in NJ.

 

Toni... I have 3 of the Louisiana Irises open today with 2 more just waiting to show off. And the same here... I have more in a little container that doesn't even look like it wants to bloom. I wonder if it's because it's in the shade most of the time?
I sure hope that one blooms for your grandson... he'll get two badges just because it's so pretty!


Thanks Philip... yes, there's 3 or 4 goldfish in there. Or at least there was a few weeks ago when I went poking around in there to feed the plants.

Luv... I really don't think it's a Texas Bluebell/Blue Bonnet. I do remember it being called either a Sage or Salvia. And most places are pretty good about making sure that you know you're buying a Blue Bonnet... because once you plant them, you can not mow them down (instructions from Lady Bird Johnson).
But... I could be wrong...

 

Here's a photo of SIX blooms on the Louisiana Iris "Black Gamecock" ... and SIX more buds waiting to open.



six blooms at once! ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

 

I also love purple and blue... when it comes to flowers

 

Hi Cheryl,
an abundance of lovely blooms,..now that Iris is a healthy plant,..showing nicely.