Hi GPODers!
Wednesdays can bring on the midweek blues, but Kathy Schreurs is helping us see “blue” in a whole new light.
I’m Kathy Schreurs from northwest Iowa, where our hardiness zone has always been 4b. The USDA now describes us as being in Zone 5. I’ll believe it when my hydrangeas—which die back every winter—actually survive to bloom on old wood!
My husband and I live in an old house on property that was disputed in a Supreme Court case in 1895 (learn more about that fascinating case here). An Irish immigrant won against a railroad company, and the rest is Sheldon, Iowa, history.
It’s been an extremely long spring by our northwest Iowa standards: I spotted my first crocus mid-March, and other harbingers of spring (Virginia bluebells, lungworts, brunneras, and forget-me-nots) were just blooming their last on Memorial Day. The long spell of cool, often rainy weather went by uninterrupted by March blizzards or May heatwaves. There’s been time to slow down and enjoy the color of spring. I’ve noticed that while roses are red and violets are blue, several other early arrivals are blue(ish) too.
I’ve been adding crocuses and other ephemerals to a portion of our lawn for several seasons now, and I was delighted when my granddaughter took up the practice last fall. One of us discovered that there is a Dutch word to describe this—stinzenplanten—which seems apt since it reflects our heritage.
Yet another precious little crocus in Kathy’s lawn—I believe a type of early crocus (Crocus tommasinianus, Zones 3–9).
My first Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica, Zones 3–9) were shared by my sister/neighbor about 15 years ago, and they’ve made their way around to other shady locations on our property. My sister moved several years ago, and we agreed recently that I should return the favor since she has none at her new home.
A timeless color combination—Kathy planted yellow bulbs next to her Virginia bluebells, creating a pop of sunshine against the sea of blue flowers.
I’ve encouraged ‘Chocolate Chip’ ajuga (Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’, Zones 4–9) to wrap itself around a hosta bed at the front of the house. I love the river of blue it brings to the spot in the spring. This will be the first season without a large linden tree offering shade overhead, and I’m concerned that the hostas will burn. My favorite tulip is ‘Spring Green’.
Another blue beauty in Kathy’s garden is lungwort. This variety’s flowers are strikingly similar to Virginia bluebells, but the distinctive foliage gives it away as a Pulmonaria.
I’m hoping that the native pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens, Zones 3–9) I planted last summer will take off, but it had a rough spring. A day or two after it emerged and starting blooming, the neighborhood opossum—since relocated—chomped it off.
Also new last year was a bicolor columbine. This spring it was completely blue. 🤷♀️
My ‘Jack of Diamonds’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’, Zones 3–9) caught more sun than it liked last summer, so I was happy to see it thriving this spring. It lives in the shade of an old lilac.
Kathy had so many blue plants to show off, we’ll be back singing the blues with her tomorrow!
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