Dutch Iris by Liz

Image copyright Liz Orr 2014

Dutch Iris is another bulb that flowers early in the season.

Dutch Iris buds by Liz

Image copyright Liz Orr 2014

Dutch Iris buds - see the flowers tomorrow on Flowers by Friends.

Agapanthus by Georgie

Image copyright Georgie Brown 2013

Agapanthus, with its clusters of blue-purple flowers will grow well in shady areas of the garden. Agapanthus are related to lilies. It is important to cut off the dead flower heads to prevent the seeds spreading into bushland.

Blue Periwinkle by Georgie

Image copyright Georgie Brown 2013

Blue periwinkle (Vinca major) is a ground cover with mauve/blue flowers, originally from Southern Europe and northern Africa. However, in some parts of Australia it is classed as a weed because it smothers other ground vegetation and prevents growth of shrubs and trees.

Garden Classics - Grape Hyacinth by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Grape hyacinth are perennial bulbs that have blue flowers arranged in a form that resembles bunches of grapes.

Blue wildflowers by Neil

Vibrantly coloured blue wildflowers, (probably Dampiera)  photographed by Neil in Western Australia

Cheirantheraa cyanea by Neil

Image copyright 2103 Neil Brown

Cheiranthera cyanea or Finger flower is a pretty Australian native found naturally on the east coast of Australia.

Cheiranthera is a small genus of plants that occur only in Australia

Spring Flowers - Spanish bluebell by Georgie

Image copyright 2013 Georgie Brown

Beautiful bluebells (Endymion hispanicus) photographed by Georgie in Perth, Western Australia

Patersonia by Ann

Image copyright Ann Condon 2013

Patersonia sericea is a pretty wildflower with a distinctive mauve/blue colour, found only on the East coast of Australia.

It flowers in spring and summer, but each flower only lasts for a single day.  However, each plant will produce new flowers for an extended period.

Last of the Winter blues - Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa lucida) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Scabiosa lucida is also known as Pincushion flower or Shining scabious.  I think Pincushion flower is by far the prettiest name! Other varieties of Pincushion flower may be white, pink, lavender or purple.

"True blue" - Australian Wildflower Royal bluebell

The Royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) is an Australian wildflower and the emblem of the Australian Capital Territory. It grows in Alpine areas with a high rainfall.
Photo courtesy sportymummy.blogspot.com

"True blue" is also an Australian expression meaning reliable, trustworthy, loyal or genuine.

Winter blues - Gentiana septimfida by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Gentiana septemfida, also known as Crested gentian,  has clusters of mid-blue trumpet-shaped flowers, about 4 cm in length in late summer. Photographed in the Scottish summer by Liz.

Winter blues - Clematis Royal Blue by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Clematis are members of the same family as buttercups -the Ranunculaceae family.

Winter blues - Echinops ritro "Veitch's blue" by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

Small globe thistle or Echinos ritro "Veitch's blue" is a variety of thistle with globules of blue flowers on white stems. Interestingly they are in the same plant family (Asteraceae) as daisies. 

Winter Blues - Harebell (Scottish bluebell) by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's all blue flowers this week to celebrate the last week of Winter (in Sydney) and the end of "the Winter blues". 

Meanwhile, in Scotland they are enjoying the last weeks of Summer. This beautiful Scottish wildflower - known as bluebell in Scotland (Campanula rotundifolia) or harebell was photographed by Liz. These flowers are popular with the bumble bees and provide them with an important source of nectar in Autumn.

Lithodora by Liz

Image copyright 2013 Liz Orr

It's slightly unusual to see truly blue flowers in nature. Lithodora are low growing shrubs with 5 lobed flowers in Summer, in various shades of blue or white. "Lith" means rock, so my guess is that these are popular rockery plants. Photo taken in Scotland by Liz.