it's an Echium,

Ahhh....thats right....I remember now.....thanks Arlene....I thought after I typed it...noooooo....not a digitalis.....

They're brilliant for bees~I have a couple that will hopefully flower next year if I get them through the winter!

Ah yes....winter...bit dodgy for them outdoors here; even Wallington with its sheltered walled garden has to put it in the glasshouse....

~we used to live near Morpeth and often visited Wallington with lots of photos of the gargoyles but that was usually on the way somewhere ~next time I get back I will definitely have to visit the house and gardens as well as Cragside ~ keep promising myself to go there.
I do love Alnwick and have visited the gardens a few times~my son in law bought a beautiful ivory silk tie with roses embroidered into the weave in the gift shop which he wore on their wedding day~that's a nice little memory!

Ah....I don't live too far from Alnwick - about 10 miles..and work at The Garden on a Monday, gardening of course"......a lovely memory of the tie!!

~he was looking everywhere for the tie to match his gorgeous lightweight Burberry suit that they fell heavily for and bought even though the price was eye watering~we all went out to Capetown on Feb 2006 which is very warm in February compared to wet Wales!