Plant of the Month-August 2009

From In the Garden

I simply adore yellow in a garden. All yellows are sunny and bright and sing to my heart. They make me happy no matter what is going on. As such it is not surprising I have a lot of yellow in my garden. I never realized I liked yellow so much until friends would drop by and say, "Hey! Guess what I got you for the garden? A nice yellow....." So it has become a bit of a cliche that I like yellow in my garden. That being said though does not mean I chose rudbeckia as my August Plant of the Month simply because it comes in a multitude of yellows. No, I chose it because it shines! Oops-isn't that what I said about yellow? No it is not-I said yellow is sunny. Slight difference here:) Okay, maybe the two are linked, but you have to admit rudbeckias are the IT plant for August, at least in my garden. Even though I had to work hard to thin them out I don't hold that against rudbeckias at all. They can't be beat in the summer garden!
Pictured above is just one of the many types of rudbeckia and also a new addition to my garden. I purchased two clumps of 'Autumn Sun' Rudbeckia lancifolia from Dr. Matthews during the Montgomery County Master Gardener Plant sale in May. This plant shines! The yellow is like a siren. The plant is over five feet all and has made itself at home. I simply adore it, as do the skippers and bees. It has been blooming for about three weeks and shows no signs of letting up. More blooms just keep coming and coming and the older blooms still look fresh!
Not to be outdone by 'Autumn Sun', Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' is shining as well. Can you say Tiger Gardens is really shiny right now? Goldsturm is so shiny it had to be toned down in the form of a thinning day. The thinnings were relegated to the far back garden behind Mr. Fix-it's garage, but there are still plenty of clumps growing in other gardens. The above clump is growing in my Perennial Garden.

These clumps are growing in the 'Heuchera Garden', 'Greenhouse Garden', and 'Woodland Garden'. Goldsturm is a plant that does well in the shade or sun. While the blooms are a bit smaller and the clumps spread a bit slower in the shade, Goldsturm is not picky about light conditions. Surprisingly enough it is also not picky about soil conditions. Rudbeckias are pest free and beloved by butterflies and birds alike. This is why I chose rudbeckias for my August Plant of the Month.

What would be your choice for August's Plant of the Month in your garden?

in the garden....