Purple Coneflower

purple coneflower photo by Adrienne in Ohio
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is growing very well in my flower garden this year. I had started them from seed, so this was the first season that they all flowered. I love their sturdy stems. When many of my other tall wildflowers are falling over, these stand straight. Tolerant of even poor soil conditions, this pretty perennial is a favorite nectar flower for many species of butterflies* and the seeds are a favorite food source of American Goldfinches. Coneflowers prefer full sun and will bloom right up till the frost.
*We actually are finally starting to see more butterflies now. Varigated fritillaries, Tiger Swallowtails, Pearl Crescents, Cabbage Whites, Common Buckeyes and one Monarch have all visited here, as well as various Skippers and some brown butterflies I couldn't identify before they flew away .

Comments

Kelly said…
...gorgeous capture of the Purple Coneflower. I love seeing a goldfinch perched on top of a dead stalk, pulling out the seeds one at a time. The butterflies are just starting to come to our garden also, but nothing like those I saw in Hocking Hills...
July 28, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Tami Weingartner said…
They always look so sad to me....must be the way they drupe.
July 28, 2009 at 11:16 AM
SaraG said…
BEAUTIFUL. I just love coneflowers!!
July 28, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Betsy Banks Adams said…
I love the coneflowers, Adrienne. That purple one is so pretty...It should bloom for you for several months.

Hugs,
Betsy
July 28, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Valerie said…
One of my absolute favorite flowers. They just bloom and fill up space and last so long - and are so photogenic!
July 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Valerie said…
Oh my goodness Adrienne, I was just so excited to see yours I wanted to share. I've had this thing for trying to follow the flowers in my yard from buds to bloom - and that was one of series I worked on. I actually posted that one back on July 8th. They are such a cool flower. I'm not done yet though. I even love how as they die and dry up in the fall. We have little chickadees come and eat and spread the seeds so they grow fuller next year,

All of your pictures are so beautiful, that is why I love to visit your blog!
July 28, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Deejbrown said…
I love Coneflowers. Planted whites when we moved in but our neighbor's pinks nudged them out (happily). They bloom despite the poverty of our soil, the weirdness of our weather & my benign neglect. Reminds me of faith.
July 29, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Unknown said…
You are so good! I need you to come help my garden : ) Or weed field.
July 31, 2009 at 4:18 PM
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