It is warming up here..it is above zero! In celebration of the warm weather which is now 14 F (-10C) ..after a low last night of –18 F (-28C)..spring must be coming..32 degrees difference overnight!! 
This is Centaurea montana which is commonly known as Mountain Bluet or Perennial Bachelors Button. It is a very pretty blue color, one of the few plants that is blue.
Centaurea montana grows 12 to 18 inches tall for me and it grows in full sun or part shade…I rarely water the “wilds” so it must not be fussy about water..and the deer don’t eat it, and Minnesota’s harsh winters don’t kill it:)
I love this fellow, he is one of my favorites! he takes anything I throw at him and I can throw a lot, like abandonment in too small a pot all summer and then all winter and still he multiplies and flowers cheerfully! Yeah, maybe invasive, but not like Hespers Matronalis that jumps out of where I tell her to be and then smothers a little buddy, but I know she just wants to cuddle and make other flowers look pretty, she just gets carried away sometimes. Montana is not like that at all, very much the gentleman in his spreading out and filling in the gaps. And nothing like Melissa officinalis, now that is one sneaky pushy broad, typical, with the sweet breathy voice, sayin' please and thank you, until you turn your back, then she digs in to your territory with her claws out and well dug into the ground,suffocating everyone around her with her false sweetness. I was out ridding a bed of her ill tempered sweet offspring yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe word "bluet" has a poetic ring to it, and I love these flowers, and now prefer the name "mountain bluet".
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful spring shots. Winter is back here with a vengeance!
ReplyDeleteYou made me feel happy just seeing these photos!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I tried growing Bachelor Button once without success. Maybe I was too fussy with it. I really like its color. I think I will try it again this year. I have a large spot that needs some brightening and this would be nice in it. It is Riley's digging area - I hope I can keep him out of it.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos especially at this time where I have had enough of this winter thanx! Our temps are to be in the pluses next week and some rain hope it gets rid of all the snow and it doesnt snow again! Have a great day !
ReplyDeleteVery pretty flowers. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I love Spring has sprung in some parts, see my post of my Lily of the valley's today, hugs my friend, Barbara
ReplyDeletehttp://bakinnbitsbarbara.blogspot.com/
Wooo, above zero! That's enough to get you starting thing about spring. (NOT ME!) Those are some beautiful pictures, I must say.
ReplyDeleteCold here too! It was almost -20 this morning with a wind chill of much colder! They say we might get up to high 30's by Sunday, but I will believe it when I see it.ha
ReplyDeleteNice to see flowers on your site, it gives me hope.
I can't wait...I have some mixed in with my wildflower patch 'cross the road!
ReplyDeleteWe actually have some meltin' goin' on after beginin' the day a two...yep...two!
Have a beautiful weekend sweetie!!!
I've got to try this even if my wildflower gardens are way on the shady side. Some how this one looks familiar. Would an old Montana flyfisherman have vague memories of seeing it along a mountain stream? :)
ReplyDeleteOur weather is still in the twenties at night but warming up to the high forties for a couple of days and then in the high fifties next week. It is only a tease though because March will cool off good again. Too soon it will be sweaty hot again.
ReplyDeleteBachelors Button - - - lovely flower. Does the Sweet William Flower grow in your area? I like it, too.
Oh, thank you! I love purple! And flowers! And your photos! Now tell me, how do you mark them with "Far Side?" I need to start doing that. Not with Far Side, of course, but Peace Garden Mama. :)
ReplyDeleteI have had, and probably still have, some centaurea in my garden, but I wasn't very impressed. An awful lot of green flopping stems, and the flowers were few and somewhat insignificant. A 'wild' garden would be a much better place for it. It might prefer a hotter drier climate than what we have, well in the summer anyway:)
ReplyDeleteHi Connie, beautiful flowers to see on a winter's day. We have these growing here on the VA eastern shore as well. It reminded me somewhat of a thistle, but don't know if these are related. We also have wildflower gardens and are anxious to see what flowers return this season.
ReplyDeleteAh - what a sight for sore eyes! Lovely shots.
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