The Color Purple

I've never been fond of the color purple. Yet I find myself planting more and more flowers in this color. They seem to blend so well with yellows, oranges, whites, and various shades of green. Lavender is quite common in flowers. I like the softness of this color blending with the greens in the woods. They call these "Purple Cone Flowers"...but they are lavender. They last so long and even the seed heads are interesting. I leave them for the little gold finches. I love to see this tiny yellow bird on the top of a coneflower.

The clematis is very often purple. Varying shades of the color that I am learning to love.

I particularly like this clematis. Sad to say, it's not doing well. The trellis is in a now shady place in my garden. The River Birch has grown so huge and is now shading that area and taking up the moisture in the ground. I love that tree.....but it is becoming a messy thing in our yard. You have to learn to live with what you plant sometimes.

Here is an nondescript clematis. Very tiny ruffly flowers. Not really my favorite, but wouldn't you know it....it's doing so well back in the woods.

Here is the Pink Mulla Mulla that I tried this year. It was planted next to the driveway. When they poured the blacktop some of the hot tar got on the plant ...it was the only plant to die. It was interesting, but you have to be careful where it is planted. It likes a dry area, and I planted it in with the flowers in the front garden...This garden is close to the hose and gets watered often.

I'm adding just one more beautiful cone flower picture. They are fading right now, but have put on such a show. The J. beetles do their number on these and spoil the petals. We haven't had a big problem with the beetles this year.

Here is my favorite flower in the yard this year. I have it in a hanging basket right by the front door. A purple Bacopa and a sweet potato vine share the basket. It needs water everyday and I have fed it a couple of times. I will buy these petunias again next year. I love the dark centers and the dark veining. So much more interesting that the wave petunias.

Purple is creeping into my wardrobe too. I have several pieces of clothing in that color. I love the lavender soaps and body washes. Purple scarves and purses...Do you think that we change our love of colors as we age? I hope that purple doesn't overtake me....I don't want my gray hair colored with a shade of purple!

Balisha