Black eyed Susans are native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown.These golden-yellow beauties are in the plant genus Rudbeckia, which contains both perennial and annual types. If you’re looking for perennials, you want Rudbeckia fulgida while the annual varieties you see growing along the side of the road are Rudbeckia hirta. This daisy-like flower blooms from June to September, only living for about six to ten days.While not considered invasive, black eyed Susans self-seed, so they do spread if not kept in check. They are available as perennials, annuals or biennials. / SANDRA JAMES
Two heads are better than one is the saying, however eighteen are counted in this case so far on a single stalk. In Lorne and Hazel Sprecher’s garden on Mountain View road in McBride there stands an approximately six feet tall single stalked multi headed sunflower. “I have never seen a sunflower like this one in our garden before” said the Sprecher’s son Cougar, while showing off the big yellow beauty. Many bees, flies and insects were enjoying its bounty of pollen and nectar.There are many varieties of sunflowers which can have multiple heads.In fact, just the standard wild sunflower can grow up to twenty heads per plant.This is just a testament to just how much they can vary from plant to plant. / SANDRA JAMES
