I have 3 big beds with tons of purple coneflowers and started noticing this problem a year or two ago with many of my coneflower plants (I don't have any of the newer hybrids). I used to chalk it up to some weird mutation, as I never noticed a pest problem or discoloration/blight problem. I usually just deadhead the cones with no petals and hope for the best. I have noticed this year that on some of my coneflowers the first bloom or two were 'normal' looking but then the subsequent blooms (after deadheading the spent ones) were lone cones. Last year was worse than this year, however. I wouldn't worry too much about your other plants being affected. I have many different plants in the same beds with the affected coneflowers and they have never been bothered. Also, I should probably tell you I rarely disinfect my pruners (I know it's bad, but I'm lazy) and the vast majority of my plants were planted from seeds of one or two store-bought plants about 7 years ago. I would love to figure this out!

I have a hard time getting rid of any plants. I have ambitious plans this fall to redo and expand my main sunny garden bed, so I have been thinking about potential SP candidates though. Red Hot Poker lily. Started from seed. Very short bloom period and the rest of the year has long, floppy, unattractive leaves. I might just move to a less visible spot though. Kind of my solution for every under performing plant. Sweet Intoxication Roses (two!). Boy , these things are just pitiful. But even their piddly, disease ridden, japanese beetle infested flowers smell great. I am going to give them one more year. Considering NOT growing annual snapdragon, cleome or nasturtiums anymore. I love these flowers, but they all have problems here. Snapdragons are apparently favored by four lined plant bug which does horrendous foliar damage in the spring. Cleomes and flea beetles, ugh! And my nasturtiums...I think my soil is just too high in clay for them. I have a tradescantia with bright pink flowers that gets red spider mites every year. Tradscantia Sweet kate doesn't have this same problem. I already SP one clump of the pink flowering one and the second clump will probably go soon too. A clump of orange/marooon asiatic lilies. These are prolific multipliers, but they fade quickly and aren't all that attractive. My biggest SP candidate is a crab apple tree planted by the previous owners far too close to the foundation. Beautiful spring display...but has to be cut back every year to avoid scraping our roof plus this year is has started to grow in front of our living room window. With all the cutting back needed on it, a painful to look at contorted silhouette has developed. Also the japanese beeltes love it. The front yard needs a big redo IMO anyways as it relies heavily on spirea which are currently covered in crispy brown flower heads. But, I probably won't actually tackle this project until spring or next fall.

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I typed a long message and lost it because AOL kicks me off midstream so I gave up for awhile. Anyway, so glad you got your package and like it , Annie. The little gift inside is a belated birthday gift. I know I don't normally send one, but it was so close to your birthday. I have been so bad about not posting them as they come along. You will be getting a prize packet, too. All the prize packets are on their way and should arrive on Saturday. Everyone has recieved their swap package now, so the June swap is drawing to a close. Thanks for participating and posting to keep things interesting. Happy 4th of July to everyone. Yes, Annie, that package went much cheaper as a priority rather than a priority flat rate. So many rules with post office packages. It was good news to me and I'm so glad the package actually made it in time. Jeanne

Hi all, I'm behind again. I've got 2 days worth of cards to list. From foreverrecyclereuse I received round cantaulope,Broccoli and Grand Rapids lettuce. jas.il sent poppies, chives and Buttercrunch lettuce. Panhandle_seed_swap sent a huge package of foxgloves, I would love to plant each one of them. Tularosa Market melon. Dirt Daddy sent a mother lode. There's moneymaker tomato, White lisbon onion, marigold mix, lettuce mix, Super beefsteak tomato, evergreen long white bunching onion, gourmet blend lettuce, bibb lettuce, Aunt Gertie's gold tomato, German Johnson tomato, Abe Lincoln tomato, and Rutgers tomato. Nikkineel sent a wonderful card with a snowman. I received Castor beans, echinacea cheyenne spirit, Cannibals tomato and zinnia swirls. jhgarden9 sent marigolds, Korean melon, and cucumbers. smitties sent sea holly and sombrero echinacia. and last but not least, roper 2008 sent red barn tomato, pink poppy and red and yellow speckled marigold. All I can say is WOW. To each and every one, thank you very much. Debby