Black-Eyed Susan: Inspiration for a Horticultural Adventure

12 Jul

Not far from a mailbox near our house is a cheery patch of yellow flowers commonly known as Black-Eyed Susans. When I went to confirm their scientific name (Rudbeckia hirta), I discovered that–much to my chagrin–they are the state flower of Maryland, which has been our home for the past 12 years. I have no excuse. I really had no idea, despite having some Black-Eyed Susans in the garden of our old house (also in Maryland). My current garden does feature a close cousin: some tall and graceful Rudbeckia maximas. I’m hoping I get some bonus points for that family connection….

This bout of state-related ignorance has inspired me to go from having no idea to having a nice idea: in two weeks, we will drive across the United States (from the West Coast back home to the East Coast). So my admittedly joyful task will now be to make note of each state flower along the route and see if I can take a picture of it. In the meantime, here is the lovely state flower of Maryland:

Tags: brown, Brown-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, seedhead, state flower of Maryland, yellow

Comments 8 Comments
Categories Gardening, Travel

8 Responses to “Black-Eyed Susan: Inspiration for a Horticultural Adventure”

jennylratcliffe July 13, 2014 at 12:58 am #

Wow – utterly beautiful photos. I love the idea of tracking your journey through flowers. When I think of Black Eyed Susan I think of the vine (Thunbergia Alata) rather than the Rudbeckia, so you have taught be something new!

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- perennialpastimes July 13, 2014 at 1:06 am #
  
  Thanks so much–I really hope I can find the state flowers; will be fun if it works out! And I don’t know the vine very well, so will now look it up and learn something new myself!
  
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acuriousgal July 13, 2014 at 1:02 am #

I love these flowers and you captured them so well…..just beautiful

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- perennialpastimes July 13, 2014 at 1:07 am #
  
  Very kind of you to say so–the photos almost took themselves, since the flowers were so pretty!
  
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queenanndee July 13, 2014 at 7:49 pm #

It looks blue in the center. How interesting.

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- perennialpastimes July 13, 2014 at 9:11 pm #
  
  You’re right –it does look sort of blue. I took the photo almost at twilight, so that may have affected the way the photo turned out.
  
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Deborah V July 14, 2014 at 5:47 pm #

If you are driving through CO you will definitely see the Columbine- they are everywhere and so beautiful. some of the others are a little harder depending on which states you are traveling through. Enjoy.

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- perennialpastimes July 15, 2014 at 9:12 pm #
  
  Thanks, Deb–I’m working on compiling my lists and hoping for luck along the way in finding the flowers!
  
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