Study in Blue

I hadn't realied that Ceonothus and Blue Bells might look so good as a planting combination. I can never resist anything that is blue, so I was instantly attracted to this scene.
Ceonothos or Californian Lilac is a great shrub, almost a powdery blue. It has many uses as a tea and medicinal. I hadn't realised until recently that the flowers make a wonderful soap when rubbed with a little water. This was used by Native Americans, and I saw children in a San Francisco School making soap like this.