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There's no place like home

Every trip is much anticipated. The excitement of packing up and seeing new things is a jumble of senses and excitement. And as much as vacations are a thrill, it always feels good to come home.

Every trip is much anticipated. The excitement of packing up and seeing new things is a jumble of senses and excitement. And as much as vacations are a thrill, it always feels good to come home.

After the delicious eye candy of the Mediterranean gardens in Southern France, we made our way home via Croatia and Venice. Arriving back on the coast felt fresh and clean, all wide open spaces and a carpet of green. I was eager to see what was blooming in my own garden.

The unusually hot summer is sending us into a riot of autumn colour and flowers. I am very much looking forward to the foliage change of our deciduous trees as a long hot summer give an amazing fall show.

A quick walk around the neighbourhood last night confirmed the old fall mainstay of Rudbeckia (sometimes known by the old fashioned name of black eyed susan) are beautiful now. These large yellow daisy-like flowers with purplish brown centers can often flower late into October.

Goldsturm is a tried and true variety that fails to disappoint. It grows about two feet tall and is incredibly popular in the low maintenance garden, preferring a warm sunny location and rich moist soil. They make a superb cut flower and are very attractive to butterflies.

Other reliable cultivars of Rudbeckia are Double Gold and Irish Eyes. These are slightly taller than Goldsturm but a nice change of pace.

But if you really want some late fall colour to knock your socks, off let me introduce you to Rudbeckia Herbstsonne. A well-matured clump of this amazing plant will stop people in their tracks.

Herbstsonne forms an enormous upright clump of huge chrome - yellow daisies with drooping petals that surround a greenish-gilded cone. Be warned, this is not a plant for the faint of heart or excessively exact gardener who likes plants to remain tidy and well behaved.

The flowers start out as fat green buds, then upward facing yellow like daisies. The petals begin to droop down and then the cool seed heads start to form. Good for enticing bees to stick around.

Common sense would dictate that you plant this monstrous variety at the back of the border - but it's fun to show it off in the middle of floating beds and at the front too. Live dangerously.

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