Flower Friday: Alluring & Prickly!

I like the lavender-blue color of this variety of Sea Holly (Eryngium). The extra shows the serendipity of gardening...The Sea Holly and a nearby hydrangea share the same lovely lavender-blue shades.

Sea Holly is also referred to as Miss Willmott's Ghost. Ellen Willmott was a famous 19th Century horticulturist. It was said that Ellen sprinkled eryngium seeds in the gardens of other horticulturists to sabotage their designs. The hyperlink above disputes this charge and provides a fascinating look into Ellen Willmott's life and career.