Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Two Species Of Black-eyed Susans

September 15, 2026

Two different species of Black-eyed Susans. This one is Rudbeckia fulgida which starts blooming in my gardens in early summer. Now they are trying very hard to hang on, but I think they are losing the battle.

And this is another Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) which starts blooming in late summer, and have just now reached their peak, taking over for the others that are fading away. Rudbeckia hirta is the Maryland state flower, and well worth waiting for.

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Looking Like a Teddy Bear Of A Bee

August 24, 2026

Gathering nectar and pollen from a Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), a cute, not so little bee, the Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens). Female worker bees are about 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch, and male bees are about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. While the queens are larger at 3/4 to 1 inch.

This bee and the Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) have a similar appearance, however the Carpenter Bee is a bit larger, measuring in at between 3/4 to 1 inch in length. And the Carpenter Bee has a shiny, smooth, black abdomen with no fuzziness.

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Silvery Checkerspot on Black-eyed Susan

July 11, 2026

A Silvery Checkerspot (Chlorine nycteisI) is a medium-small brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of 1 3/8 to 2 inches. This one is sitting atop a Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) which is really flourishing right now, much to the delight of these little butterflies.

Host plants of these Silvery Checkerspots are sunflowers, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and Ragweeds. As adults they live for 10 to 14 days, with some lucky ones surviving for up to 3 weeks. During that time they will eat flower nectar, and visit damp soil and mud puddles to sip the water, which provides them with essential minerals. This is known as puddling, a behavior that many butterflies take part in.

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Purple Coneflowers And Black-eyed Susans

July 7, 2026

Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) pairing up with Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) surrounded by many other flowers blooming on the back hill.

But I’m patiently waiting for the highlight of the summer, the Maryland state flower, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Looking quite a bit like the Black-eyed Susans in this image but I know the difference.

And because it is the Maryland state flower, it is important to me. I’m being patient. I can tell the difference, as the stems and leaves emerge. They’re on their way. They just take a bit longer to bloom..

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