Oh, you know what? This year, them rudbeckia flowers in my garden, they ain’t lookin’ the same as last year. I tell ya, every year, them flowers pop up like clockwork, but this time, it’s like they got a whole new set of clothes on. I thought rudbeckia was just yellow, plain ol’ yellow with that black middle, like a big ol’ eye starin’ at ya, but this year? Oh no, honey, they got different colors. It’s like they went to a fancy party and didn’t invite me.
Now, I ain’t no expert, but these rudbeckia plants, they usually come in yellow, maybe with a touch of orange here and there. But this year, I saw ’em come up in all kinds of shades! There’s red, brown, even some of ’em lookin’ kinda like a dark cherry color. I ain’t never seen nothin’ like that. My neighbor says it’s a variety called ‘Cherry Brandy’. Sounds fancy, huh? But trust me, it’s just as tough as the regular ones. Them flowers, they grow strong, and the colors last all season long, no matter what weather comes our way. Strong plants, them rudbeckias are.
When I first started plantin’ ’em, folks told me they only come back for a couple years. They said they’re called “biennials” or somethin’, which means they got a short life. But ya know what? Mine keep comin’ back, year after year, like a stubborn ol’ mule. Some years, they might look a little different, but they still show up. I seen some folks plant ’em as annuals, though. Maybe that’s why they think they don’t last long. But if ya treat ’em right, they’ll surprise ya, just like mine did this year with all them new colors. It’s like they were tryin’ to prove a point!
And let me tell ya, them flowers ain’t just sittin’ pretty in one spot. When they first come up, they stand all proud and tall, like they own the place. But after a while, they start spreadin’ out. At first, I thought, “Oh no, they gettin’ wild!” But turns out, that’s just how they grow. They like to spread and fill up space, so if ya got a good spot for ’em, they’ll cover it nicely. I got mine in a bed near the edge of the yard, and by the end of the season, it’s like a whole sea of flowers.
But ya know, not everything’s always perfect. Sometimes, I get these little pests on the leaves. I forget the name of ’em, but they make the leaves turn kinda yellow. Little mites, I think they’re called. I don’t see ’em much, but when I do, they can make the plants look sickly if I don’t catch ’em early. Usually, I just hose the plants down with some water, and that keeps ’em in check. My rudbeckia don’t mind; they still bloom all pretty, even with a few bad bugs around.
Now, if you ain’t growin’ rudbeckia yet, I don’t know what you’re waitin’ for. They don’t ask for much, just a sunny spot and a little water, and they’ll keep bloomin’ for you all summer long. Plus, with these new colors, it’s like havin’ a whole new garden every year. I heard some folks grow ’em in containers, too, if ya don’t got space in the ground. That way, you can move ’em around, let ’em catch the sun wherever they need it.
So, if you’re like me and love somethin’ easy to grow that gives ya plenty of flowers to look at, give them rudbeckia a try. You might just get surprised like I did this year. From bright yellows to deep reds, it’s like a rainbow right there in your yard. And honey, ain’t nothin’ better than watchin’ your garden surprise ya with somethin’ new. I can’t wait to see what next year brings!
Tags：[rudbeckia flowers, Cherry Brandy rudbeckia, black-eyed susan, colorful flowers, garden perennials, summer blooming plants]
