Giant Blue-Eyed Mary: The 71st Flower of Spring & Summer!

I am always delighted when I see these flowers blooming in the springtime. I think they are both unusual looking and extremely beautiful with their two-toned blue and white coloring. They only grow in a very small area on our property (the space of about 200 feet) but where they grow, they are all over the place!

Giant Blue-Eyed Marys are native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California. These flowers grow low to the ground but are about the size of a golf-ball when all of the flowers have bloomed. They are called "Giant" because other flowers in this genus, of which there are about 20 species, don't have as large a display of blossoms, and their flowers are smaller. Surprisingly, these Blue-Eyed Marys are related to a very different looking flower I posted a few days ago, English Plantains!