Penstemon heterophyllus 'Heavenly Blue'

This is such a reliable early bloomer!

Isn't it just! I rely on it totally, but I have to say - this year she was 2 or 3 weeks late. Normally the first blooms are open at the end of April, but this year not until second week of May. I think it was down to the lack of rain (I've been told about 4mm between the end of March and Mid-May) rather than the harsh winter - even our dwarf cambridge blue geraniums were very late - I've only needed Chelsea chop one of those.

I'm kind of glad it was late though - I had so many projects under way through April and May that I'm now having the chance to appreciate things :)