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To celebrating this first week of autumn, in my Mother’s garden, the deep-yellow
flowers of the hybrid form of our native Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) are
ripening into dark chocolate seed heads. Interlaced with the Rudbeckia are the
newly-opened white flowers of one of our wonderful native fall asters.
While it’s good to clean up in the fall, the pictured plants and all others with
edible seeds should be left until early Spring. As you know, our small
seed-eating songbirds, whose bushes and meadows have become condos and malls,
desperately need winter food from our gardens. Leave the seeds, and you’re
rewarded with the winter beauty of the seed stalks and pods graced by wrens,
finches, warblers, and sparrows (against the snow if you’re far enough North).
Consider this: the birds feasting on my mother’s Rudbeckia seeds last winter
left behind a thoughtful hostess gift: the aster’s seeds.
By the way, I recommend the hybrid Rudbeckia over the native version. The hybrid
is more compact and resistant to powdery mildew, and has a longer blooming
season. As to the native asters, they’re prefect as is. If you find them a bit
tall, pinch them back during June and July. Both plants are drought tolerant,
sun worshipers; many asters also do well in part-shade. Both plants are rated
zones 4 to 8 but “In My Garden” readers in zone 9 (California, Louisiana, and
Florida) and zone 3 (Ontario) are probably also familiar with these garden
treats. Let me know. |
