Nothing timid about this one…a neighbor’s early blooming shrub, a flashy display of almost riotous color, and a good contrast to all the yellows blooming now.
These were blooming along a trail one warm, almost-sunset walk about a week ago. Purple ageratum-like blooms as well as some distinctly different and bright yellow wildflowers…easy to spot among a season’s worth of drying vegetation.
These are not my plants, but I stop and admire them often. They’re part of an area filled with salvia and sage plants. The lavender/purple/silvery groupings produce a soft, fanciful effect that will last all summer.
I planted this azalea hybrid a number of years ago. Since then, it’s been a favorite. The shrub blooms later than other azaleas, but it produces both white and pink blossoms, and even individual blossoms with both white and pink areas on the same flower.