Black-Eyed Susans

With all the rain in central Wisconsin in recent weeks, my prairie has the tallest, thickest grass and the most wild flowers I remember since we began restoring it back in the late 1960s.

Black-eyed Susans have taken center stage for the past couple weeks, they are abundant, they are tall, and they are making a statement this year. For those who may not know, the Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is daisy-type flower, yellow with a brown center. It grows about two to three feet tall. And it likes my sandy, gravely, rather poor prairie soil.

Black-eyed Susans are native to the United States and they take care of themselves—I have not planted one Black-Eyed Susan seed since we began our prairie restoration. They come back year after year, some years more than others.

If you keep track of states and their official flowers, it is Maryland that has claimed the Black-Eyed Susan, since 1918.

More prairie reports later—along with the status of my garden’s three sisters who continue to duke it out.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: All gardeners know better than other gardeners.


CHECK THIS OUT: For those who read the Wisconsin State Journal, look for a review of Horse Drawn Days in the Sunday edition (July 25).

WRITING WORKSHOPS

Saturday, October 30. There is still room in my day-long workshop. Contact: The Clearing Folk School www.theclearing.org P.O. Box 65 | 12171 Garrett Bay Road | Ellison Bay, Wisconsin 54210 Toll Free: 877.854.3225 | clearing@theclearing.org Monday - Friday 8-4

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 29, 7:00 p.m. Brown Street Books, Rhinelander, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.

August 4. 10:30 a.m. Flying Farmers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac. Stories from the Land.

August 8-14, The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. Writing Class.

August 22, 11:00-3:00, Barnes and Noble, Racine, WI. Horse Drawn Days and more.

August 25, 7:00 p.m. Bailey’s Harbor Town Hall, Door County Environmental Council. Ames County Novels plus Old Farm.

September 13, 10:00 a.m., Attic Angels Retirement Center, Madison. Horse Drawn Days.

September 14, noon, Waupaca Library, Waupaca, WI. Ames County Novels.