It is coneflower (Echinacea) time in my garden. I love these guys. They are drought tolerant (very important when you haven't had rain in over two weeks!), don't require hand watering, are bee and butterfly magnets, last a long time, come in all kinds of cool colors, and are no fail perennials. What more can you ask for in a Plant of the Month?
The swallowtails sure love them. They are very busy lately and I expect I will soon be finding the caterpillars on all the parsley and dill in the garden.
I am almost 100% positive this yellow coneflower is 'Harvest Moon'. I have to take back all the negative things I was thinking about these cultivars. I have been trying without success to get one to come back in my garden for the past five years, with no luck. When this lone yellow flower bloomed it restored my faith in the newer cultivars. 'Razzmatazz' has not lasted, nor have any of the 'Big Sky' series. I say I am fairly certain this is Harvest Moon because that is what I purchased at 'Summer Celebration' in Jackson Tennessee last summer. Be sure to check out the link as Summer Celebration is happening very soon! I hope to be there for the fourth year in a row, though I am not sure yet.
I am also sure I purchased this at Summer Celebration and believe it is 'Green Jewel'. I like it. It is a bit dressed down as far as coneflowers go, and you have to really look for it, but it is cool. Maybe it would count as a green day post? A green flower no less!
I grow a lot of coneflowers, purple ones, named ones, white ones, I can't keep track of them all but I can tell you this, my garden will never be without a coneflower. I sure hope someone develops a cultivar which will flower in the shade because one day that might be all I have in my garden. All coneflowers need is full sun, (I have them growing and blooming in part sun), good drainage and average soil. They don't require a lot of water or fertilizers. Their seedheads last a long time and the goldfinches love them. I leave the seedheads up until March or so. If you don't grow coneflowers-run out right now and buy yourself one or beg a friend for a start from their clump and be prepared to enjoy them for a very long time. They are my choice for July's Plant of the Month due to their durability and long lasting blooms and seedheads, as well as their easy care growing habits.
in the garden....
Tina, I love the photo of the butterfly! Drought resistant flowers sound like a great idea. How nice that you rescued a kitty. Hope you find a good home for him.
ReplyDeleteI love the doe and fawn photos on Skeeter's post too.
I've posted my last Oxford blog early as am going into frantic packing mode. I'd much sooner sit in the garden. I can't wait to get back to Maine.
I've always wanted this flower, love the size and color, just have to find a spot, OR cut down a tree!
ReplyDeleteI like them too! The 'Harvest Moon' is pretty cool. as our garden grows I'll collect more. Right now though our coneflower petals look a bit ragged, its probably due to a lack of water.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, it does look like Harvest Moon, I have that one and it looks just like that. I also have the green one but it is a virused white one. Maybe that is how it was bred, some tulips have viruses to get their unique color breaks. I was going to dig them up, but have left them for now. They are behind the bench at the top of the hill not close to the expensive fancy ones. But insects make for a small world here. Sunrise is doing well, Sundown, not so much. They started out good and have just shriveled up, even with watering. The best ones are the old stand by white swan and purpurea here. Good choice for plant of the month.
ReplyDeleteLove the bee and butterfly on the flowers. Hope kitty finds a home soon. Sorry you didn't get rain --we got soaked and absolutely crazy winds. I was happy since we still had Sidekicks game -makes sense now --it didn't rain up that way. Painters are out painting --girl model and I want to get out for a run. See you later!
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely. I was thinking about taking picutres of the baby with some flowers around him. Taking a picture of his back sitting down naked.he he. Any suggestions on what flowers to use.
ReplyDeleteConeflowers are great! How could anyone not like them? Although, I must tell you I don't like the new varieties that look like they have a virus! I am probably pretty close to a purist when it comes to coneflowers....I hope you are not whispering rigid;-)
ReplyDeleteYou have to go to Growild and get TN Coneflower...But they need full sun...all day!
Gail
Sarah, Good morning. I have you on my blogroll so I would know when you publish. Lovely, lovely writing. I also loved seeing the pictures of my old elementary school. Have a very safe trip! Drink lots of water for the plane ride.
ReplyDeleteDawn, This is a must have flower-but don't cut down trees. It can tolerate partial shade. I have some that are doing nicely.
Dave, Maybe after summer you might find some on sale? You got such good buys I am sure you will luck out. These are so super.
Frances, I always learn so much from you. I am glad I remembered one of my plants. I am better with this now. Do you know if White Swan reverts to purple? I am trying to make sure white are in one location and purple in another but the clumps come up with both colors. Someone told me they revert. Also, the green one was specifically purchased green but it could be a virus. A nice one as I like it though it is not showy.
Anonymous, Do a rain dance for us for tomorrow. Hopefully it will come through. Can't wait to see the paint job.
Sarah, Brown eyes are out now and would look lovely surrounding a baby. They are pretty common so it would be easy to find. Or even zinnias. Did you get rain?
Gail, You big tease. Now you know I have no spot in my little one acre lot that could possibly grow this coneflower if it must have full sun. Darn! Instead I am going to enjoy your beautiful pictures of them and imagine them in person.
Hi Tina. I've yet to meet anyone who has success with the new hybrid coneflowers. Don't know if it's mostly us northerners or if southern gardens have trouble keeping them alive.
ReplyDeleteOn a really sad note, even my Mangus and White Swan are succumbing to the mosiac virus. I think I have two or three left of the 20 or so I once had.
Marnie
Great choice for Plant of the Month for July. I love, love, love coneflowers. They are a fantastic perennial and versatile as you said. I would love to try some of the new colors they have now. I have purple and I had white swan but not with much luck.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for flower of the month. They are so pretty and have so many nice colors.
ReplyDeleteSarah L, when do you expect to be in Maine? Hope your trip is a good one. Also hope your timing in arriving in Brunswick is so the kiddos can make a stop at Cote's!! Be safe.
We did not get any rain at our house. I was at work and got over an inch. I will be on the lookout for the flowers for the pictures
ReplyDeleteI've got several purple coneflowers I started indoors from seed this year. They seem to be slow to get going, but I'm seeing a lot of healthy new leaves now so I have hope that they are getting established and will make it through this winter. I REALLY hope I get some flowers this year.
ReplyDeleteMarnie, I think many are having trouble with the new cultivars too. That is awful with your coneflowers. I did not know coneflowers got tobacco virus. That is too bad on your two coneflowers. Do you think it is because they are hybridized cultivars?
ReplyDeletePerennial Gardener, Glad you like my choice for plant of the month. I am curious, what has been the problem with the white swan? Does it revert? I am trying to find out about this.
Mom, Glad you like my choice for plant of the month. Still no luck with the kitten. Sarah's last post from England was very nice.
Sarah, No rain either? That is a bummer.
Amy, You posted at the same time as me. Funny. I hope you get some flowers too. I would think you would as even in Canada they should grow well. The flowers are great.
ReplyDeleteLove those coneflowers! I have black-eyed Susan’s and this year I have a few that are totally green like the one you show! No two of any of the flowers are the same this year! Last year they were all the same! I originally tossed seed in the planter and now they have taken over the planter by reseeding each year....
ReplyDeleteI love the butterfly pic and the green jewel. How different. I plan on having coneflowers in my garden as soon as I get some play money saved up.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, I have not had the white swan revert, but sometimes the seedlings might come up pink and the original plant dies. So far the seedlings from the white have all been white, except for the green ones. I have been reading about viruses spread from the old orange tiger lilies to other types of lilies. Those were growing here when we moved here and I ripped them all out. They had gone to seed though and are back. I really like them but fear for the other lilies. For now, I am letting them live. I know that viruses are a fact of life, everywhere, the toughest will win out, with the most resistant. I don't want anything that needs too much pampering, a dilemma for sure.
ReplyDeleteLoved the pics of the cone flowers. I am thinking of getting some for my garden--you've just convinced me to do so.
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, It seems those green ones are becoming common? Probably a virus like Frances says.
ReplyDeleteSam, Thanks for stopping by and welcome to in the garden. I see you garden in TX. You have many beautiful pics and I will be looking forward to your Angel Trumpets opening. I love those.
France, That would explain it with the coneflowers. I don't like this trait. Viruses are a fact of life for sure. I don't have any tiger lillies and had never heard of this virus. Maybe the newer ones are more resistant? Hope yours don't get any viruses. Those are bad for folks and plants.
Lola, They are the best for sure! You should pick up a few and they might be marked down soon. Is it very hot in Florida? Hot and humid here.
ReplyDeleteConeflower is queen isn't she! Love 'em and want more varieties. They are so durable. With all of your different cultivars maybe you will discover a new breed. Wouldn't that be fun!
ReplyDeleteLayanee, Yes that would be fun. But I never keep track of them so sadly someone else will beat me to the punch. I must SOMEHOW get organized. Now where did I put that keyboard.....lol
ReplyDeleteHot and Humid in GA...
ReplyDeleteSo Humid I got all sticky watering the porch plants at 7:30 this morning! Yuck...
Yes Sarah's last post from England was very nice. No wonder she writes books, she is such a great writer. Sounds like Henry will be in Maine next week but not Sarah and the kids.
ReplyDeleteConeflower is one of my favorites. It's so dependable. It is one thing that seems to do well in my garden year after year. That green one is very interesting. I'll have to look for it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could send you some of our Pittsburgh rain. Our mower is broken and this rain is just making a hayfield out of our fields which desparately need to be cut.
Hot and humid here too Skeeter. More humid than hot today.
ReplyDeleteMom, Sarah's last post is very heartfelt. She is a good writer. Maybe she'll be a bestseller soon? Up there with with Stephen King and put Maine on the US map?
Cindy, I feel for you with a broken mower. Urgh! I don't have hayfields but when the lawn gets long I get a bit-how shall I say-anxious to cut it. I do hope you fix the mower soon as that hay is not going anywhere! The green coneflower may become more mainstream but seems hard to find. Garden shows would be easist I think. They are reliable-always a good thing!
Yes, hot & humid here. More rain. We are in hurricane time so rain will be a daily {almost} occurrence. Grass was almost knee high to a giraffe. Young'un did manage to get it cut today. It looks so nice when freshly cut. Had him to bag as the wire grass was fun of seeds. Arggg, hate that mess. Worst thing for a blade.
ReplyDeletePicked up limbs in back yard & was pis paring like crazy just after a few minutes. Had to come in and cool off. Did get them picked up though. Rods in leg not doing too well with all this moisture.