Queen of the Prairie

Queen of the Prairie they call it. Filipendula rubra 'Venusta.' It reached full bloom on July 1 and, though I can't say its blossoms are my favorite color--I generally dislike pink, especially pink of this intensity--it makes a statement and marks the beginning of high summer in my garden.

In a couple of weeks the pinks will fade to a subtle coppery color, much more appropriate to the surrounding plantings, as the tall yellow perennials come into bloom--Rudbeckia maxima, Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne', Silphium perfoliatum, Silphium lanciniatum, Silphium terebinthinaceum, Inula racemosa 'Sonnenspeer'.

Much more to my liking ...  Pontederia cordata, pickerelweed, in the pond.

Plants for wet clay: Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstsonne'

This rudbeckia is one of the most successful perennials in my unimproved wet clay. In my last garden in Rosemont, I banned yellow. Here, on Federal Twist Road, with a dark background of forest trees, the yellow brings much needed color and light. This plant thrives in partial shade, without any need for staking, while rising to heights of eight to ten feet. It has a great mop of flowers, and good looking, disease free foliage, year after year. And look at the marvelous seed cones (click photo for a closeup).