What Is This Ground Cover With Purple Flowers That Grows In Shady Areas

Question From: Canton, Michigan, United States
Q: I have a shaded area on the north side of the house and I want to pant some ground cover there. It's in among some shade and pine trees. Our neighbor has a ground cover I like in a shaded area but they don't know what it is. It gets purple blossoms in the spring. I've attached a picture of how it looks now. Can you tell me what it is, and would a local nursery have these in stock now for planting?
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A: The ground cover, Vinca minor, is quite common, Independent garden centers and nurseries that service landscapers should have it. Call around for a source. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy