We thought for a while that the Summer of Oh-9 might not ever make its appearance. It was cool into July, and blessedly rainy. It was rainy to the point that hearty Midwesterners who are used to cracked, dry clay were beginning to wonder if they were going to need to grow gills and fins. But, all good things come to an end. We have passed through the season of the pretty pinks and burgundies and pale peaches and whites, to the season of COLOR!
When it finally turns hot at Chez Buffy, Rudbeckia save the day. I have two types of rudbekia which are volunteers (thanks to the chipmunks), and a third that I’ve planted intentionally, called Rudbekia ‘Goldsturm.’ These are the plants that will carry us through August and into the season of chrysanthemums.
The plant in the picture below is the simplest of the rudbeckias. I think of it as a Black-eyed Susan. The petals are a little rounded, and it’s just gold and dark brown.
This plant, with the extra ring of burgundy on the petals, seems to be the one that is everyone’s favorite. It’s very tall, and unless you stake it, it will drop and flop any way it pleases, usually impeding the use of the sidewalk.
And this plant is Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm.’ I have six or seven of these plants scattered throughout the gardens. This is just one plant in the picture. Those that receive more water (or less heat, or more sunlight) are the biggest, but it grows under almost any adverse condition.
I have one other tall gold-flowering plant that has just been planted in the gardens near the front door. This year I bought a gold/yellow version of a purple coneflower. I may look for the “sunset” colored variety next year, to encourage the red shades in the garden.
Arrrgh!!!
It's just my state of mind!
Beautiful, beautiful flowers, Buffy. I must admit that when I see gold surrounding a brown center, it makes no difference what sort of cone flower it is. It will be a “brown-eyed Susan”, to me! Thanks for taking the photos and sharing them with us.
Thank you C.C. Isn’t it interesting that I’ve been taught to call these plants BLACK-eyed Susans, while you call it by the proper color name: BROWN-eyed Susans. I wonder where my mother learned the version she taught me? I’ll have to do a little surfing to see what I can learn about these plants. Given that I have so many of them in my gardens,it seems like a wise thing to do.
I’ve always called them Bleack-eyed Susans too. Evidently we never had any while I was growing up as I don’t recall the Brown-eyed version and it just sounds weird to me.
Anyway, I love the type with the extra burgandy. The only BES that I have came as one stow-away with the lillies around the fence (those came out of someone else’s yard), and it is the more common “wild” type. (actually, it probably is the wild version as the lilies are also the wild versions).
Me, too, Bogie. I love the volunteer plants, and plants shared by others. I’m the person who always wants to save all the tulips that the landscapers are ripping out…and I want the wild plants that are now protected.
I know your gardens are gorgeous with the plants you chose, and now I’m glad to hear that there are stow aways, too! *S*