Do REALLY True Blue Hardy Geraniums exist?

I live half the year in Scotlands' Borders. What a contrast to the tropical Island of Jamaica where I grew up and what a wonderful challenge it is to begin to learn how to garden in a rewarding temperate climate. I have lots of hardy gernamiums which I adore but NEVER have I found one that turns out to be as blue as advertised, that lovely clear, pure blue of a morning glory. All tend toward lavender. I have tried Buxton's Blue, Johnson's, Jolly Bee, Rozanne, Brookside, all, I believe wallichiana, haven't tried Sabani. Does a true blue in fact, exist? Has anyone found one?

Fishy, here is a link to a ton of geraniums, including a couple you didn't mention.

http://www.avondalenursery.co.uk/Content/Catalogue/Plants/GERANIUM-Brookside.asp

fishy, you must have some interesting gardening advice/tips/stories gardening in two such diverse locations!

Now, I wonder, too, about the hardy geraniums and the 'blue' color. I grow many of the ones you mentioned, and I think maybe they might tend toward the blue hue if the sunlight is just right on them.

In the main, mine appear lavendar, mauve or purple, too.

There are a couple of National Collections of the Hardy Geraniums in the UK and you may contact one of them for some background. I don't know if 'Avondale Nursery' in the link above is one of them, but you could check. And DG used to have a poster who had a huge collection, 'Mark was his name, I think', but I haven't noticed his posts in recent history.

Please post some pics of your gardens. (-: I am very curious/nosey.

t.

I have never seen a true blue geranium--all the ones I've ever seen are really more lavender than blue. They're bluer than other geraniums which is how they get blue in their cultivar names, but none of the ones I've ever seen are really blue.

Thanks for the question, fishy, I've been on the search also.

Thanks everyone, for the replies, very much appreciated. I have looked through your link, themoonhowl, and there is Brookside looking as blue as can be but you are right, ecrane3, they just don't bloom as blue as they look on the sites but they are wonderful plants, in any case. I would love to post some pics of my garden, Tabasco, I just have to figure out how!! Ahh methinks I got it. The first is a rhododendrum in May, nothing shows scale but it is about 15 ft high and that's a Kiftsgate climbing rose over it. Will find the rose in bloom.

hmm it seems I can only put up one pic at a time

Oh, yes, a magnificent rhodie!

And I assume that's your garden in Scotland?

Yes, only one pic per post, but feel free to add a long string of photo posts of your gardens. (Everyone does it.)

Yes Scotland not Jamaica!! Trying to find one of the first blooming of the new rose bed, 75 icebergs.

Pergola in the walled garden...climbing roses, clematis and honeysuckle over, lavender and cotton lavender at sides plus tulips in spring and purple iris later. Behind the bench are sweet peas, need I add that it all smells nice....

When can I visit???! (-:

View through an upstairs bedroom...smell the roses...

That rose climbed possibly 30 feet or more up the tree, was more last years, a chunk blew down during the winter. This one is my first effort at a perennial border. Adored the campanula persificola "Chettle Charm". Aconitum not as beautiful as Delphiniums but need no support. Also liked the red Astrantia, and Achillea "Moonlight" although I thought it would be paler. I like almost all the aquilegium, especially the yellow and the almost-black, and have some lovely old-fashioned fragrant roses, planted before I came here.

Lovely pictures Fishywishy....but where is the pond....Grin. Your garden is just beautiful. Must be a delight to awaken to the roses.