Been a TERRIBLE YEAR for my coneflowers -- at least half of them never even came up -- I think the wild violets smothered them out... The ones that did, have had lots of mold on them, and the soaker hose just ain't gettin' it and I just haven't been able to stand the heat well enough to slow-water more than a couple times with the hose. I had SUCH a patch of them and the perennial false sunflowers the last couple of years. The sunflowers are doing so-so, but the coneflowers look like I might have to start over from scratch. Since I don't remove ANY seed heads until late winter, I can't believe I didn't at least get some new seedlings. Here's what I USED to have... I haven't photographed what this year looks like, but I might soon, for comparison. It's pitiful; I tell ya! Long shot of my fence from just under my carport Back section of the fence, with just coneflowers From the middle of the fence, back towards the carport The above was all shot in early-to-mid July of last year. This July and August... Zip. Just so you don't feel too bad, Jean... Maybe echinacea's just having a bad year for most of us :( Jeff

In the same bed, terrene, are two regular looking pink ones. They are nice and tall but look like the regular E. purpurea. I'm going to ask neighbors if they would like to have them. They are growing right up next to my Sundown and I need to move them. I think you might be right about crossing the Big Sky plants with E. Paradoxa. You might get something really special and different. I have a friend who has offered to grow out some of the seeds from my tangerine orange seedling just to see what we get. I'm definitely taking her up on it. Since Paradoxa has been blooming about the same time as this seedling, maybe more crossing has taken place by the bees. You just never know. It's really awful that the voles ate your tall cross. It sounds like a really nice plant and I love the idea of the tall flowers. Linda

Have you noticed that something has been eating on your plants? Maybe the petals have bite marks in them? Leaf hoppers spread the aster yellows disease. If this plant has flowered correctly in the past, I highly suggest you remove it and trash it. This will help prevent it from spreading to your other plants. Even if it isn't that disease, you will still be getting rid of a bad plant and replacing it with a good one.

Must agree with the above. We had so much rain this year and the Echinaceas are only starting to perform now that the rain has stopped. Thought we were going to lose quite a few before then. I must say the garden center Manager did a good job of 'up-selling' the fertilizers to you. I agree with Echinaceamaniac about the MG, and will add that the addition of compost to the soil should have been sufficient to start your plant off in the right direction. There was no need to buy fertilizer unless you knew that your soil was deficient, and from all indications, that was not the case since you say that all other plants in the same bed are doing fine. I would urge you to google the "ironate", do some reading, and then see if you wish to continue using it or dispose of it properly. I hope your plants come through and do well the rest of the season for you. :O)