I told you last week about some native plants in my yard that are starting to emerge. Of course, many others are probably stirring beneath the soil, getting ready to sprout, but these two have actually taken the brave step toward coming out of the ground. Green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) and Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) have pushed the brown leaves upward on their way to very different heights and blooms.
They’re brash, colorful, and stick around longer than you’d expect. They like to hang out in your yard, soaking up rays. They attract bugs but don’t necessarily smell good. I’m talking, of course, about the Rudbeckias, or more commonly known as “the Susans”. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) are two outstanding plants for sun or partial shade, are easily grown, and are most definitely welcome visitors to any yard. Their two kin aren't bad either.
