Could it be this: Centaurea - Mountain Bluet?
My neighbor has it in her yard and it's beautiful!

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/25550-product.html

This doesn't look like centaurea montana to me. I don't recall centaurea having a large, cone-shaped bud like that. Can you please submit another picture? Now, I am curious as to what it is. Do you remember if it is a native plant or a garden hybrid?

Hi,

I didn't realize there was a "Name that Plant" forum, and I found out what it was! It's Phyteuma spicatum, or common name Rampion (wasn't that what someone in a fairy tale had a craving for? :>) It's native to Europe and Asia. I wanted to collect seed, so I let the seedheads form- as a result it didn't bloom very long- if I'm successful propagating it, I'll try deadheading and see if that prolongs the bloom period.

So, of course I didn't get a photo in full bloom, but here it is further along in bud, the flowers opened to be pin cushion type.

{{gwi:212911}}

I found a picture of this blue one. Looks like it is the same as yours.

Here is a link that might be useful: phyteuma spicatum nigrum

Thanks ontnative- yup that's it.

Rae