Sialia sialis: Eastern bluebird

The eastern bluebird [Sialia sialis] is a small bird found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. It is the state bird of Missouri and New York.

This species measures 16–21 cm [6.3–8.3 in] long. Eastern bluebirds are found east of the Rockies, southern Canada to the Gulf states, and southeastern Arizona to Nicaragua.

The bright-blue breeding plumage of the male, easily observed on a wire or open perch, makes this species a favorite of birders.

About two-thirds of the diet of an adult consists of insects and other invertebrates. The remainder of the bird’s diet made up of wild fruits or berries. Favored insect foods include grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and beetles. Other food items include earthworms, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, sow bugs, and snails.

Photos: Chamblee, GA, USA [20150819]

Source: Wikipedia

Muscari armeniacum: Grape Hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum is a bulbous plant of the genus Muscari with basal, simple leaves and short, flowering stems. It is one of a number of species and genera known as Grape Hyacinth, in this case Armenian Grape Hyacinth or Garden Grape Hyacinth. The flowers are purple, blue [with a white fringe], white [var. “Album”] or pale pink [var. “Pink Sunrise”] and the plants are usually 15 centimetres [6 in] tall. Some selections are fragrant.

Muscari armeniacum is one of the most commonly cultivated species of Muscari, is robust and naturalises easily

Photos: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [20150415, 20150424]

Source: Wikipedia

Cyanocitta cristata: Blue Jay

The blue jay [Cyanocitta cristata] is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in residential areas. It is predominantly blue with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest. It has a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest.

Sexes are similar in size and plumage, and plumage does not vary throughout the year.

The blue jay mainly feeds on nuts and seeds such as acorns, soft fruits, arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates. It typically gleans food from trees, shrubs, and the ground, though it sometimes hawks insects from the air. Like squirrels, blue jays are known to hide nuts for later consumption.

Photos: Chamblee, GA, USA, [20141009]

Source: Wikipedia

Campanula carpatica: Carpathian harebell

Campanula carpatica [Carpathian harebell, tussock bellflower] is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae, native to the Carpathian Mountains of Central Europe.

It is a low-growing herbaceous perennial, with long stems bearing solitary blue bell-shaped flowers. Several cultivars in shades of white, blue, pink and purple, have been developed for garden use.

Photos: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [20140509]

Source: Wikipedia

Passiflora caerulea: Blue Passion Flower

Passiflora caerulea [blue passion flower, common passion flower] is a species of flowering plant native to South America [Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil].

It is a vigorous, deciduous or semi-evergreen tendril vine growing to 10 m [33 ft] or more, with palmate leaves and fragrant, blue-white flowers with a prominent fringe of coronal filaments in bands of blue, white, and brown. The ovoid orange fruit, growing to 6 cm [2 in], is edible but bland.

Photos: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore [20140425]

Source: Wikipedia

Nymphaea ‘Leopardess’: Leopardess

Nymphaea ‘Leopardess’ is day bloomer tropical water lily, non viviparous, free flowering use in any size water garden.

Foliage: 10-12 in. purple leaves with green blotches; spread of 4-5 ft.

Flower: 4-5in., cup-like, clear blue flower with purple tips; slight fragrance.

Photos: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia, USA  [20130913]

Source: NCSU

Pachydiplax longipennis: Blue Dasher Dragonfly

The Blue Dasher [Pachydiplax longipennis] is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is common and widely distributed in the United States.

Mature males develop a bluish-white pruinescence on the back of the abdomen and, in western individuals, on the thorax. They display this pruinescence to other males as a threat while defending territories at the edge of the water.

Although the species name longipennis means “long wings”, the wings are not particularly long. Females do, however, have a short abdomen that makes the wings look longer in comparison.

Photo: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia, USA  [20130913]

Source: Wikipedia

Salvia chamaedryoides: Germander sage

Salvia chamaedryoides, or Germander sage, is an evergreen perennial native to the high desert [2100–2800 m elevation] of the Sierra Madre Oriental range in Mexico. Its name comes from sharing the running rootstock typical of Teucrium chamaedrys [Wall germander]. Spreading freely, it reaches a height of 60 cm when in bloom, with small grey evergreen foliage. The flowers are blue, appearing sporadically throughout the growing season, with peaks of bloom in early summer and autumn.

Photo: Atlanta, GA. [20130803]

Source: Wikipedia

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’: Pincushion Flower

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates part shade, particularly in the hot summer climates of the deep South of USA. Prefers light soils with neutral pH. Intolerant of wet soils, especially in winter.

This pincushion flower cultivar is a compact, clump-forming perennial which typically grows only 12-15″ tall. Long and profuse bloom from late April until frost. Flowers [2″ diameter] feature an outer ring of frilly, flat, lavender-blue petals and a paler domed center cushion with protruding stamens [resembling pins in a pincushion]. Flowers bloom singly on stiff stems.

Photos: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore 20130516

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden

Pansy [Viola x Wittrockiana] Delta ‘Beaconsfield’

Delta Beaconsfield pansies are large, rich, blue and white petals.  They grow 6-8 inches tall.

Pansies and their viola cousins have become the most popular cool weather annuals over the years as commercial property managers began planting them more than a decade ago to add color and landscaping life to their properties during the fall, winter, and spring months.

Photo: Flower Dome, Gardens By The Bay, Singapore 20130713

Source: Plants That Blooms