When the slowpokes become the stars
This is the other thing I like about mail order. Many of the plants I've been getting from Bluestone and Select Seed are very small when they arrive in May-much smaller than anything you'd see in a nursery. (In fact, most shoppers would be appalled at the thought of paying for these.)
In the case of Bluestone, I might not really see any action until next year, as is happening with the rudbeckia maxima. But with some of the plants, including this Prairie Glow from Select Seeds, they are just beginning to show their stuff now, when, believe me, I could really use the color.
And thank you, whomever is creating new rudbeckia, for giving us these softer colors and taller plants. (The Prairie Glow is easily 4'.) I would never consider bringing another Goldsturm into my garden, but these mingle well with tall purple and white flowers.
Comments
I've been very pleasantly surprised by both Bluestone's and Select Seeds' plants -- a lot of them do manage at least a little bloom their first year, even some of the perennials started from seed.