Nancy has done some amazing work landscaping our yard. About all I do is mow the grass and sit back and enjoy the lovely flowers and plants, so I take no credit. One of my favorite parts of the yard, though, is a little wildflower patch around our bird bath. There was once ivy there, that took over everything, but Nancy pulled it all up and planted a little patch of perennials that includes coneflowers. Coneflowers are in the daisy family and grow wild in meadows in eastern North America.  The inflorescent flowers with rose-colored florets come to a head, like a conehead, therefore the name.

In the past few days, the bees – mostly bumblebees – have discovered the coneflower blooms and are making frequent visits. While blooming, the coneflowers readily attract not only bees but hummingbirds and lots of butterflies. When the cones are mature, they form tiny thistles which attract all the finches, especially the radiant-yellow goldfinches.

Coneflowers are perennials and come up on their own each year. They are just starting to reach full bloom in our small patch and the birds and bees are taking numbers.

They are easy to grow if you have a fairly moist piece of land that gets medium sun. It’s a flower that pays multiple dividends when it comes to attracting wildlife. Next spring, start a patch. You’ll love the results.