I have found my "Ramona" to bloom for a long time and much darker than "Mrs. Chumbley"...I just planted "Chalcedony" ...so, I have no experience with her as of yet to divulge...Jeanne

My 'Ramona' doesn't impress me much. She doesn't bloom very long for me. 'Multi-Blue' and 'Daniel Deronda' are much better performers for me, though they are darker.

How about Mrs. P B Truax? I'm thinking of getting that one and wonder if anyone has experience with it? It says it's periwinkle blue.

I found Mrs C to be pinkier than I had expected.

I have an older Niobe planted about 4 feet away from a newly bought last Summer 2 year old Ramona that was mislabelled Bee's Jubilee. I don't know if they will bloom around the same time this year , but I could imagine the velvety texture of Niobe would be complimented by the almost satiny sheen of Ramona. Ramona didn't bloom for me until October, but did seem to last a while.

Marie

Thanks for the input. Marie, that's kind of what I was thinking. I don't mind if the bloom doesn't totally overlap, but I think it would at least part of the time. My Niobe was putting out buds in early March, before the big freeze hit. Same time as the early bloomers. It is now setting a lot of buds again, just a little behind the early ones, which should be going strong for a while yet.

I also had considered Mrs. PB Truax. Would be interested in opinions on that. But, that sheen on Ramona (at least in pics) is really interesting me. And the red stamens.

I'm still taken with Mrs. C - on my wish list for years. Which combo would look better - Mrs. C with Niobe or with Warsaw Nike? I don't have Warsaw Nike yet, but absolutely must have it.