"For a dependable, long season bloomer that brings a smile to faces, you can't go wrong with Rudbeckia," asserts Marie Iannotti. And I couldn't agree more -- especially that part about Rudbeckias bringing a smile. Sometimes, our impressions of plants derive, no doubt, from quite visceral reactions. In my case, I think the joy that Rudbeckia elicits from me has a lot to do with my love of the color, gold, plus vague memories of the very first floral doodling I did as a kid. Think about it: The botanical drawings of many a budding artist begin with a sketch of that oh-so-familiar daisy shape that Rudbeckias have. But in her Rudbeckia pictures, Marie introduces us to some Rudbeckias that may not be so familiar.

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