For many years I have had only the native Purple Coneflowers in my garden. I started those from seed and over the years they have reseeded themselves here and there
A few years ago I decided to start collecting some different varieties of Coneflowers since the deer don't seem to like them.
I don't remember their names but I put markers near each of them so I could keep track of which ones I have.
Last year I lost quite a few of my Purple Coneflowers in a native wildflower area to a disease called Aster Yellows that is spread by leafhoppers.
Prairie Moon Nursery, where I buy most of my native wildflower seeds, has several different varieties of Purple Coneflower. I purchased a package of Purple Coneflower and Pale Purple Coneflower. The Pale Purple needs cold stratification so I will wait until January to winter sow it in a pot out on my deck. The Purple (Echnicea Purpurea) can be sown now so that's what I'm going to do - sow it outside in a prepared bed for native wildflowers. The other Coneflower seeds from Johnny's - Paradiso Tall Mix- can also be sown now. I am going to start it out in a pot on the deck now for later transplanting to the cottage or cutting garden in the Autumn.
Along with the Purple Coneflower I will be throwing in a couple of other Natives - Showy Tick Trefoil and Spotted Bee Balm.
I extended one of my native wildflower areas. I had to clear out a few small trees and weeds - mostly wild black raspberries. I mentioned I now have a bad case of poison ivy on my arms and this is where I got it.
It looks like a junky spot right now but when you are a gardener you can see into the future and know it will look spectacular in a year or two or three.
I put down cardboard from boxes that John's G-tube formula comes in on the pathways to smother weeds. I don't eat many canned goods but the few cans I do have or are given to me I put over small tree stumps so they don't magically regenerate.
I put a part of an old chicken feeder (I used to raise chickens for eggs and meat) over a bigger tree stump. Sometimes I use old buckets.
When I run out of cans I use the old bags that hold the water and food that pumps into John's G-tube. Whatever works! Make do!
The seeds have been sown...
And sow on...
