Alpine aster
January 24, 2015
Alpine Aster 7 July 2011 ID 132
According to the Wikipedia article Aster alpinus,
“Alpine aster is an ornamental plant native to the mountains of Europe (including the Alps), with a subspecies native to Canada and the United States. It is a perennial forb having purple, pink or blue flowers belonging to the genus Aster…It grows to be about 6-12 inches (15–30 cm). The bloom color may be pink, violet/lavender, dark purple/black, or white/near white and may bloom in late spring/early summer or, occasionally, midsummer. In the UK this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.”
Mertensia virginica
January 24, 2015
Mertensia virginica 9 June 2011 ID 1316
According to the Wikipedia article Mertensia virginica,
” (common names Virginia bluebell, Virginia cowslip, lungwort oysterleaf, Roanoke bells) is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae, native to moist woodland in eastern North America. It is a spring ephemeral plant with bell-shaped sky-blue flowers opening from pink buds. The leaves are rounded and gray-green, borne on stems up to 60 cm (24 in) tall. Butterflies are the most common pollinators because they can easily perch on the edges and still enjoy the nectar. Plants are hardy to hardiness zone 3 – −40 °C (−40 °F). In cultivation, M. virginica has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s RHS Award of Garden Merit.”
Another Calgary garden 