Echinacea and Leucanthemum (flowers, grown, Hibiscus, grass)

[paperhouse]

I love these plants. So strong and bold. The Rudbeckia fulgida is just starting to bloom. These three, along with hardy hibiscus, form the backbone of my perennial bed. I have others mixed in among them for variety.





Rudbeckia hirta has been blooming a while.

[Janecj]

What a gorgeous display. You must have good soil and a green thumb. I so badly would like to grow the black eyed Susans.. the huge ones ..but deer just won't allow me to. I am so envious of your display. Even my daisies look pretty pitiful (one reason is I just don't water them enough I think). At least the deer don't eat those.

[Gerania]

Beautiful paperhouse! They are all truly lovely flowers, and part of the joy is the strength and self sufficiency that they exhibit. Favorite flowers in my yard are the cone flower, daisy, bee balm, lavender and yarrow. Very nice stone edge in the photo with the daisies.

[paperhouse]

Jane, I spent all last summer hauling composted leaves to layer over cardboard and grass. It meant not having a garden til this summer, second year in the house, but everything has grown wonderfully. The rain in spring didn't hurt much either. Here in Stanly County, it's mostly stone with some clay thrown in.

Thanks too, Gerania. All that stone comes from holes I've dug or areas I've tilled.



I forgot completely about bee balm. Ugh...I was trying to keep it to 4 things I used a lot in my yard. I think this winter I will sow a lot more bee balm. This red double came from seeds I received in a trade. I love it too. Next year I will shear these plants early to increase the number of blooms.

[Janecj]

Ha, Ha. That's what it looks like when I dig a hole. A bunch of rocks.. so many rocks and clay soil. I do buy soil at the garden store to plant in, but they just do ok.. so frustrating.