Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine

This is the third year for Loraine in my garden but it might as well be the first. For the first 2 years, she did not do very well. She was not getting enough sun, I think. So last year I moved her into the sun garden. She is doing very well in this spot and I expect she will stay here now. Last week, her first flower opened and she is full of buds.

Yellow

When I first started gardening, I was admant about no yellow. Yellow flowers were my least favourite, I was sure. I think it may be because most of the wildflowers here are yellow and my thoughts of a garden then, excluded most of them. Yellow has changed for me since then, as have wildflowers in the garden. Two years ago, I brought wild Prairie Coneflower into my garden proper and have not regretted it since. They are wonderful and look equally great with Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine' or any of my pink roses. Today, I love yellow, orange, deep chocolate colours and everything fall. You would not have known it from my early garden. The first two years, everything I planted was pink. That was my first mistake, followed by many others. That is the joy of gardening for me though, mistakes can abound and nature will still figure it out and usually put on a display better than any I could have dreamed up. Today, my garden embraces all flower colours as it grows with me. 

Linda's Perennial Pick of the Season

This was a hard choice!  However, I am a BIG fan of phlox and this phlox paniculata 'Nicky' is my new favourite.  It had a rocky start - I planted it bare root in the spring of 2008 and it has taken this long to grow and bloom.  It was well worth the wait.  I've noticed that many of the tall phlox change colour depending on the time of day (or maybe the temperature?).  Nicky looked quite pink when it was first opening and had me confused.

I also love Danielle's perennial pick and was tempted to post my 'Summer Sun' heliopsis - it was a close second.  (I managed to sneak it in here anyway ;)

My Favourite Perennial Pick of this Season

Although early in this season, I would have told you that Begonia 'Bonfire' is my favourite plant discovery for this year, this more recent blooming beauty has really captivated me. This is Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine' and she is currently blooming happily in Judy's sideyard. She is stunning. White leaves with dark green veins and bright, cheery, lemon yellow daisy-like blooms. I am a big fan of daisy-like flowers. She is a tagless plant that was easily identified on the internet with complete confidence. There is nothing quite like her or even close enough to mistake. The best part of this discovery is that she has a little baby offshoot of 3 stalks and one bloom that Judy has offered me. I have decided to leave the baby where it is for the winter and will divide and transplant in the Spring. I hope she spreads really quick because I can just see a huge patch of her in my Front House Garden where I will see her blooms several times a day every season.

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine', perennial zone 2, 30" height by 30" spread, full sun