#2406 "August Black Eyed Susans"

 I thought I would have some fun with a closer view of the black eyed susans in the Singleton garden. 

The name black-eyed Susan is an epithet (an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned) of the flower's signature dark brown center. The legend says that the name black-eyed Susan originated from an Old English Poem written by John Gay entitled 'Sweet William's Farewell To Black-Eyed Susan'. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a resilient wildflower that grows well in disturbed or unfavorable environments. The flowers blooms every other year but since it reseeds quickly, the black eyed susans seem to be blooming every year and everywhere. Black eyed susans are heat and drought tolerant so should do well with climate change. The black eyed susans in the Singleton garden just appeared and we let them flourish naturally. 

The black eyed Susan flower (Rudbeckia hirta) belongs to the sunflower family and is the state flower of Maryland. It’s also a medicinal herb believed to treat colds, flu and even snakebites. Black Eyed Susans are indigenous to many sections of North America. They were introduced into Europe from North America soon after Columbus's visits and were named by Linnaeus in 1753. Linnaeus gave them the Latin name Rudbeckia Hirta after his mentor Olaf Rudbeck and hirta meaning rough, hairy. The plant was known and used by many Native American tribes. 

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