Why Can't We All Just Get Along?!

Harmony

I Thought Unique But Diseased...

From what I've been able to determine some of our echinaceas, more so the Purple Coneflower but some Black-eyed Susan's too, have a disease called "Aster Yellows". 

Aster yellows is a viral-like disease caused by a phytoplasma (formerly called a mycoplasma-like organism). Insects that suck the sap of plants, especially the aster leafhopper.  There is no cure, treatment, pesticide or insecticide, to control aster yellows. That's why early diagnosis is crucial. Promptly remove any infected plants from your garden and dispose of them so no more aster leafhoppers can feed on them and spread the disease further.

Reluctantly, I've been pulled the affected plants and putting them in the trash, versus compost, to ensure they're gone so not to infect our others coneflowers.

Distorted Flowers

Seems we're having a bit of a problem with some of our Echinacea, specifically our Purple Cone Flower and Black-Eyed Susan.  I noticed it a couple of years ago and at first didn't know what the issue was and didn't do anything about it.  If I had, perhaps, I could have saved more of the plants.The problem is actually a disease; a disease called Aster Yellows.  Aster yellow is a plant disease that can infect many common vegetables, annual flowering plants, perennial flowering plans and weeds.  It's spread by the Aster Leafhopper as it feeds on the plant.Once a plant has been infected with the disease, it's a lost cause as the disease is incurable.  The needs to be removed and put in the trash.  Do NOT put in your compost pile.This summer I've been pulling and trashing the plants that look to be affected with this disease.  It's unfortunate but hoping I can get it under control before it works it's way through all our gardens and plants.  Here are a couple picture of how Aster Yellows looked on our plants, with the last pic being how the flowers should be -

 

We Have The Spirit!

JoAnne and Emilie, out and about on their RI scavenger hunt this past weekend, came across these beauties - Cheyenne Spirit echinacea.

Although, we have oodles of Purple Coneflower all over our yard, we didn't have these beauties...until now.

Of course the only downside to echinacea is that the deer love them too, and I'm not taking about enjoying their colors either.

It's only been a week since we planted and with nightly watering their doing great!

Butterfly and Echinacia

This stunning Black Swallowtail butterfly was around all weekend long.  Keeping me company as I worked in the yard.  Fluttering from one flower to another and one plant to another.  Hoping to attract more and see other kinds too, as we have plenty of flowers to dine on.