Bluebell, Hyacinthoides x massartiana. The hybrid bluebell shares characteristics with both the Spanish and native bluebell, which can make it difficult to identify. WT
Blue aquilegia, Aquilegia vulgaris. Common names: Granny’s Bonnet or Columbine. The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle (aquila), because the shape of the flower petals are said to resemble an eagle’s claw. The common name “columbine” comes from the Latin for “dove”, due to the resemblance of the inverted flower to five doves clustered together. […]
Borage, Borago officinalis. Flowers are normally blue but some pink examples can be found. The flowering season tends to be quite long from June to September. Can be confused with Green alkanet (also edible) but Borage flowers have pointed point tips at the end of each petal. WT
Scilla, Scilla siberica. Small, pretty early spring-flowering bulbs with star shaped flowers most suited to deciduous woodlands.
Meadow cranesbill, Geranium pratense. Part of the geranium family, The leaves are deeply divided into 7-9 lobes and 3-6 inch wide and the flowers are pale blue, although getting paler into the centre. The flowers have 5 petals, which sometimes have veins. The stamens have pink-purple stalks with dark purple anthers. Photo: Stephen Middleton
Green alkanet, Pentaglottis sempervirens. Flowering in early spring but staying through the summer months, it’s a popular plant for bees, Green alkanet has beautiful little bright blue, white throated flowers. Its pointed oval leaves are covered in stiff little hairs which are slightly prickly to the touch. WT. Photo: Stephen Middleton
Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica. References go back in German legend to the Creation when the plant asked God to “Forget me not.” It was adopted by Henry IV during his exile and has been a symbol of faithfulness, in particular with lovers, for centuries. Newfoundland still uses the plant to remember Canada’s war dead and it is an interchangeable symbol with Freemasonry. WT
