A SKETCHBOOK ODYSSEY

The Black Eyed Susans are at their peak in our yard. They are such bright and cheerful flowers and we look forward to them every year. Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown. They tend to blanket open fields, often surprising the passer-by with their golden-yellow beauty. Members of the sunflower family, the “black eye” is named for the dark brown-purple centers of its daisy-like flower heads. The plants can grow to over 3 feet tall, with leaves of 6 inches, stalks over 8 inches long and flower diameter of 2 to 3 inches. Holbein Watercolors in a Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook.