Delayed, Instant Gratification

Rarely do I buy a big beautiful plant. I usually start from seed, find a little something at a local gardener's stand, or hit the sales. I've been craving Echinacea since I first saw it about eight years ago. It always seems ridiculously expensive at the plant nurseries, and I always pass it by. Today I hit the fall sales with my mom-friend and found huge blooming ones for $8! Sold. Eight years later, I have instant gratification with huge beautiful plants!

Echinacea Purpurea 'Prairie Splendor'


It's funny, I always thought the cones would be soft and powdery, but they are stiff as straws...cool!

Echinacea 'White Swan'

White Swawn found a home in the South Hill garden, not much happens here in fall so this will brighten it up. I love the bronze green of the cone.

Echinacea 'Summer Sun'. I really love this amber-cream color. It looks good next to the Rush with it's messy bronze tips.

I also fell in love with this Rudbekia Hirta/Gloriosa Daisy 'Autumn Colors', which looks absolutely fake!



Penstemon 'Red Riding Hood' found a new home in the sitting garden, between two carpets of creeping thyme and next to the hammock table.

The tubular flowers open at the tips and attract hummingbirds.

The view from the sitting garden.

The purple coneflowers in their new home too, at the edge of the sitting garden.