Monday, July 12, 2010

Perennial front yard attraction

Black-eyed Susan / Rudbeckia hirta

The Black-eyed Susan is a member of the Aster family. The plants are typically 1 to 2 feet tall and have bristly-hairy leaves and stems, with flowers having dark purplish brown centers  - but you can see all that. 

Black-eyed Susans contribute a valuable nectar source for butterflies, moths, bees, flies and various beetles.  In fact, the only reason we took this picture was the kaleidoscope of a butterfly - probably a tiger swallowtail - that was perched on it, until Casey came over to check out the photo op.

What is particularly gratifying about this flower though is that it started out as one of Vic's seedlings on our kitchen counter in 2008 - and it made a flashy comeback this summer.

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