Mary Claire Rowe

Stokes Aster "Blue Danube'' (Stokesia laevis), a blue-violet flower of incredible beauty, obviously loves the growing conditions in the "Rainbow Border" of our IDEA Garden, because it blooms from June to August.

The delicate color belies its hardy nature, and only when the hot weather begins to pound our world does it start to slip away for the duration. Pale blue flowers of this shade are rather rare in our garden schemes, so this plant really stands out. I love its powder-puff shape and early-morning-sky color.

This heat and drought tolerant perennial prefers full sun to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun. It grows 12 to 15 inches wide by12 to 18 inches high. Blue Danube likes well-drained, moderately damp soil, and has average water needs. Water regularly, but do not over water.

To propagate, divide by root ball or sow seeds. The beautiful fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies and birds, and are deer resistant. It needs to be dead-headed to encourage repeat blooming.

It was named for botanist Dr. Jonathan Stokes, an 18th century English physician.

Since I love blue, I dream about the perfect flowerbed. It would be filled with "Blue Danube,'' and wonderful Salvias, such as "Victoria Blue,'' "Black and Blue,'' "Indigo Spires,'' "May Night,'' or "Blue Angel.''

It would also have "Sky Flower,'' (Duranta repens), "Texas Bluebells'' (Eustoma grandiflorum), "Rocky Mountain Columbine'' (Aquilegia caerulea), "Spiderwort'' (Tradescantia sp.) and any other blue flowers I could find.

These are just some of my favorites. All would be blooming at the same time, making a gorgeous palette of blue. My dream garden is almost a reality, for there in the "blue" section of the "Rainbow Border," are many of the blue flowers I mentioned, plus many more. It is arranged so that something blue blooms throughout the year. Of course, if you like red, orange, white, or yellow flowers, you will find flowers of those colors there in the "Rainbow Border" as well. The plan of a rainbow of colors is a lovely concept, beautifully executed.

Many of the flowers in the IDEA Garden are bulbs, and the Smith County Master Gardeners are having their annual Garden Conference at Marvin United Methodist Church and the famous Bulb Sale at Harvey Hall on Oct. 11.

The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. The bulb sale runs from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Go to http://grovesite.com/mg/smg for more information about this Master Gardener event.

It is considered to be the best bulb sale in the South.

It is an event not to be missed, so put it on the calendar now, even though it is eight weeks away. While you are thinking about the garden, don't miss an opportunity to visit the Tyler Rose Garden Complex and enjoy all the flowers. It is worth a trip, even in the heat.

BLUE AND HARDY: The beautiful blue “Stokes Aster’’ (Blue Danube) blooms from June through August.
(Photo Courtesy Mary Claire Rowe)