Now maybe it’s because I was in high-school and college in the 80’s that certain Prince songs are permanently embedded in my brain, but the other day an old favorite popped into my head while perusing the garden.
Purple rain, purple rain….purple rain, purple rain...
Yes, we had just received another shower (we are having so many for a semi-arid climate, it’s amazing) and I went out to shoot some photos thinking it would be nice to capture the after effect of the rain. As I began looking around I heard the song in my head and just kept shooting all the shades of purple in my garden.
Aster 'Prince' 
- Allium
Redbud tree 'Forest Pansy'
- Clematis ‘Bonanza’
When I finished I realized my late spring/early summer garden is dominated by shades of purple. So maybe…
purple reign, purple reign…purple reign, purple reign…
is more appropriate!
Do you incorporate a lot of purple hues in your garden? Or, is there a particular color that dominates your spring/summer garden?
igardendaily 
I LOVE this post! I grew up listening to Prince too especially since he is from my hometown, Minnesota! Remember the movie?! Ha! Your photos are gorgeous! I wish I could have such a spectacular garden. Where do you live? Gardening is hard here but I’ve seen some amazing ones in my neighborhood. I have a three-bed flower garden in front of my house and plant different shades of double begonias every summer. I love them as they flower all summer long and give me so much joy, especially after such a long cold winter.
Nicole
Hi Nicole, Thanks for your kind words…yes, I will ALWAYS be a Prince fan! I live in the intermountain west (Boise, ID) and gardening can be a challenge here too. But I guess that makes the reward that much sweeter! I love Begonia’s too and think I shall get a few for some pots on my shady back patio. Thanks for the reminder!
P.S. Since I know you love to travel, we just finished a camping trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park (not super exotic) but wonderfully beautifully and naturally awesome…
Woo-hoo A! Now I’ve got purple rain stuck in my head! LOVE Prince!
Your pictures are stunning! Your garden must be looking gorgeous right now with the extra rain taking care of watering needs and the warm weather kicking in…
Will there be a “raspberry beret” post later this month?! mmmmm, raspberries…
Love the little bee photo…what a busy little feller!
Prince is STILL my all time FAVORITE musician! I have EVERY album of his!! Purple is also my favorite color (my bridesmaids wore purple). I am sitting here singing the song now as I wave my imaginary lighter in the air! :o) Looking good, girlfriend! Keep up the great work!
*walks away singing purple rain, purple rain*
I also have a lot of purple in my garden. Strange actually as it is not a colour I favour in the home or in clothes, other areas of life, but i the garden I love it. Purple works well with whites, pinks, blues and I think yellow and purple can be stunning together … so in the garden it just works, don’t you think?
PS: I love the Double Columbine you got from your mom! Lovely!
PPSS – Forgot to say I love that song too – also a Prince fan 🙂
I love it…I found a predominance of purple in my garden as well with all the lavender I have blooming not to mention, clematis, scabiosa, geraniums, salvias etc…the yellows are just beginning now so it will be interesting to see the shift…love the play on words and love Prince
We do have a lot of purple in our garden; Black elderberry, Purple Fountain Beech, Purple Smokebush….
I think the purple leaves are a nice contrast to all the green.
Great post.
Yes, me too but I think I went a little crazy in my main perennial bed almost so much that when you look at it from a distance it is more purple than green! Ah, the design process goes on….
i love prince 9went to school w him) central high Minneapolis mn. love your pictures of flowers, grow and photo ???=both r five star!