I planted echinacea in my garden last year from a pot and it had blooms on it. This year I have a healthy multi budded plant about as high as I am, which is about 5 ft. Now its mid July and the buds are not nearly ready to bloom. I am anxious to see them. It is such a lovely flower and attracts Monarch butterflies. Does anyone know what time of the summer this plant is supposed to bloom ? Is there a way to force it ?

Tick

Hi! Tick

Usually late Summer early fall:
Echinacea Purpurea Plant Profile: Care, Uses and Types of Purple Coneflowers for Gardens | Suite101.com (http://plantsbulbs.suite101.com/article.cfm/echinacea_purpurea_plant_profile)

PDF - Top of pg.4, didn't see a legend
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/perennialresearch/Perennial/2004%20combined%20table%20-%20flower%20induction%20-%20for%20web%20site.pdf

From my chest o' 'marks:
MSUE Portal (http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/default.cfm?page=1&per_page=10&page_id=25646&pageset_id=25644&submit_type=search&freetext=forcing+echinacea&search_operator=any_word&partner_id=0&meta1=0&meta1_attr_name=&meta1_string_type=contains&meta1_string_text=&meta1_boolean_value=&meta1_date_type=any&meta1_date_from=&meta1_date_to=&meta1_enum_type=is&meta1_enum_value=)

Scroll down till you see... Categories matching 'forcing echinacea'
It can be done, but sounds somewhat difficult.

K

Hi! Tick

Was thinking 'bout your butterflies and found these links.


Toronto Field Naturalists (http://www.torontofieldnaturalists.org/)

Butterfly Bait and Butterfly Feeders (http://www.nababutterfly.com/butterfly_feeders.html)

Near the bottom she gives tips that worked for her:
Butterfly Feeders New Jersey (http://www.nababutterfly.com/butterfly_feeders_nj.html)

Monarch Watch (http://www.monarchwatch.org/)

Found the atach here:
http://butterflywebsite.com/clipart/index.cfm

Thanks much KUX for your thoughtful response

Tick

Your welcome http://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia/cgi-bin/getimage.exe?CISOROOT=/natdiglib&CISOPTR=1901&DMSCALE=87.71930&DMWIDTH=700&DMHEIGHT=700&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20butterfly&REC=2&DMTHUMB=0&DMROTATE=0


Image from this link, page 4:
National Digital Library : Search Results (http://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia/cdm4/results.php?CISOBOX2=butterflies&ddlMediaFormat=JPG+PDF+HTML+MP3+FLV+SWF+VHS+DVD+MO V+WMV&CISOROOT=all&CISORESTMP=/cdm4/results.php&CISOVIEWTMP=/cdm4/item_viewer.php&CISOMODE=grid&CISOGRID=thumbnail,A,1;title,A,1;subjec,A,0;descri ,200,0;none,A,0;20;title;&CISOBIB=title,A,1,N;subjec,A,0,N;descri,200,0,N;da te,A,0,N;20&CISOTHUMB=2,5&CISOFIELD2=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOOP2=all&CISOFIELD1=format&CISOOP1=any&CISOBOX1=JPG+PDF+HTML+MP3+FLV+SWF+VHS+DVD+MOV+WMV+&CISOFIELD3=subjec&CISOOP3=none&CISOBOX3=&CISOFIELD4=subjec&CISOOP4=none&CISOBOX4=&History=on&s8fid=240124827563249)

Check the National Digital Library home page... National Digital Library : Home (http://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia)
Lots an lots of images, and not just of Butterflies.

K