I had forgotten about the forlorn Black-eyed Susans that must have dropped seeds in the garden. The flower, a member of the sunflower family, grows naturally throughout Texas. It's also a perennial, and when I was taking my gardening classes, I remember learning that perennial seeds generally take two years to grow from seed, but once established they will continue to comeback without needing to plant anymore seeds. They'll also spread if you don't "dead head" the blooms when they die, which I don't do because I'm lazy. I figure they'll take care of themselves.

I am a huge believer in planting native species, and we're coming up on fall, which is a great time to plant many native shrubs, trees, and flowers. I'm taking stock of my yard right now, trying to figure out what plants I want to plant this fall so I have color year-round. One resource I love is the Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity, published by the Travis County Master Gardener Association. The city also publishes a free booklet on plants recommended for central Texas, which can be found at any local nursery. You can also always go online and learn more about native plants from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.