Mertensia virginica, commonly known as Virginia bluebells are one of my favorite late spring perennials. They self sow unobtrusively around the garden and put on a long show until temperatures start rising in late spring or early summer. In the wild they are typically found in moist woodland meadows, but they tolerate dry shade in my garden. The blue color is most welcome in the garden - it compliments most other flower colors beautifully.

Neal, I really like Virginia Bluebells too. The parents of a friend of ours have a 500 acre farm that is along the Potomac River that looks like that second picture in spring. Absolutely beautiful. I've been trying for years to get a smaller version of that look down along the creek bank along the entrance drive to the property. I've only been able to add 10 to 15 plants a year and they just aren't spreading at all. Slow going. I finally decided that I'll buy volumes of plugs - planting 100+ each year, but I probably won't start until 2017, not enough time to get to everything that I already have planned for 2016 They look really nice combined with old fashioned bleeding hearts (dicentra spectabilis) and trilliums too

That woodland pic of Mertensia is absolutely stunning! I have a small clump but find them slow to increase as well. They are such a pretty blue; they certainly are a complement as Neal says. Good luck with your creek bed planting Terri, it will be beautiful.

Terri, the farm you described sounds stunning! I have happened upon wooded areas while hiking that were carpeted with them- truly breathtaking. I started with just 2 plants 7 years ago. Increase was slow at first, but in the 4th year I started finding seedlings and since then increase has been steady but confined. I believe the area I have them growing is dryer than they would prefer.

I've considered harvesting the seed, but have never been able to get more than a few. They hide well and are hard for me to see.

Srunning photos. I think I need to get some of these.