Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wildflowers in the sun


coreopsis beginning to bloom in sunny bed
Just because a plant has a wiry stem doesn't mean it won't make a good flowering garden plant. Plants like ox eye daisies and coreopsis (tickseed) can seed and spread and pop up just about anywhere without taking up too much space. They are both blooming now, and will continue for a while with dead heading of spent blooms.

My daisies and coreopsis share space with lilies, coneflowers, black-eyed susans (rudbeckia), liatris, phlox and monarda. All of these plants are sun lovers. Full sun is at a premium in my yard. So I require my sun-loving plants to get along and share space.  I really like the kind of crazy quilt flower bed that results.
Who can resist playing " loves me/loves me not" when you pick a daisy?  It's also a great way to teach odd and even numbers to kids.

coreopsis
 Blooms that have a round center with radiating petals are always referred to as "daisy-like".  But it's much harder to play "loves me/loves me not" when petals overlap.  You should stick with the daisies.

 This is "Jethro Tull" coreopsis I got last year.  I just couldn't resist.  Why the name?  Well, the petals are fluted and IT ROCKS!

As you probably noticed, the pink phlox pilosa is till blooming! It's happy to have the company of the daisies and coreopsis! 

Make the most of your sunny areas.  If you let those wildflowers spread, soon you will have a fiesta of flowers!

I am joining Gail at Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday. 

 

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9 comments:

  1. Christys Cottage Wildlife GardenMay 22, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    Hi Beth....I love your sun area! I have seen several posts showing Ox Eye Daisies. Did you plant these from seed or did you buy a plant? I really want these but I've never seen the plant in the nurseries and I don't think I've seen the seeds in stores. I must find these...they are so pretty and my book says the "May Queen" variety starts blooming in early spring, so I'm going to try and get this one!

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    1. UnknownMay 22, 2013 at 4:16 PM

      Hey Christy! I had a gardening friend years ago named Julie who passed along a bunch of different plants when we moved into this house (20 years ago). She gave me the start of the daisies, black-eyed susans, siberian iris, and the fabulous pink phlox pilosa. I,in turn, have been able to pass along all of these as they have spread and grown. If you ever pass a yard/garden and see some growing, you should stop and ask for a share. I think anyone with ox eye daisies would be happy to dig you a clump!

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  2. BarbarapcMay 22, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    Nothing happier to look at in the garden than something from the daisy family. The little dots of colour are so pretty - I can imagine them swaying in the breeze. Rock on J. Tull!

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  3. AlisonMay 22, 2013 at 5:42 PM

    Coreopsis is a favorite of mine! Such a cheerful flower.

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  4. LeaMay 23, 2013 at 5:44 AM

    Love those bright colors!
    My Tickseed is just beginning to bud.
    Happy Gardening!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  5. GailMay 23, 2013 at 4:11 PM

    A friend just gave me a large pot of tickseed....I am thrilled, it's been forever since I've seen the species for sale. I had forgotten how much I love the bright yellow color. Lovely photos. Thank you for joining in on WW. gail

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  6. sweetbayMay 25, 2013 at 2:09 PM

    A clump of oxeye daisies has divided and popped up in various places here for years. Gotta love them. :)

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  7. Debbie/GardenofPossibiitiesMay 25, 2013 at 6:50 PM

    I have several different coreopsis in my CT garden but they do not seem to re-seed (I wish they would!). I do divide them every few years and move them around the garden but it's still not the same as re-seeding. Mother Nature does a much better job of combining plants than I do.

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  8. RoseMay 25, 2013 at 10:56 PM

    Love your "crazy quilt"garden!

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