This is Echium, a plant native to the Canary Islands, and imported here for Portugal, as I understand.
It grows pretty much wild here, and can be invasive, but I love seeing where it will pop up in the yard each year. It varies from the color of the sky to pink/blue. The leaves are interesting as well, and can have pink veins on them.
These Tower of Jewels, as they are called, provide food for bees and hummingbirds.
One friend commented that they reminded her of something Dr. Seuss would think up, and I agree!

This one looks to me like a jouster's sword.

 

 

Think left and think right and think low and think high.

         Oh! the Thinks you can think up if only you try!

                                                      Dr. Seuss

                                                           

This year a whole little orchard of them popped up in the front yard.

       

To all of us who just can't help it, who would still rather live in an old house even after fixing one up, remember the words of the poet:  He who loves an old house never loves in vain.
                                                                     -Isabel La Howe Conant. "Old House".

This is the story of my love affair with an old house, the overgrown garden surrounding it, and the hypnotically beautiful landscape beyond. The house and garden reveal new things to me all the time, compelling me to share some of my experiences here. Enjoy!