The front of the Darien Police Department headquarters building on Hecker Avenue has a yellow and black flower that you can also see at many other spots around town.
Darien Patch asked Tony Vitti, florist manager at Nielsen's Florist and Garden Shop at 1405 Post Rd, what is it?
"Rudbeckia," Vitti said. "It's commonly known as a Black-eyed Susan. Vitti thinks the specific flower in the picture accompanying this article is a Rudbeckia Goldsturm.
"It's a very strong perennial, in that it's real hardy," Vitti said. "It grows in any kind of soil conditions -- it's not really picky."
Something pretty tough -- sounds about right for the front of a police station.
"It makes for a great cut flower, as well as a pretty showy summer plant," Vitti said. It blooms from midsummer through early October in Darien, he said.
Susan likes the sun, but she's rather "drought tolerant," Vitti said.
The flower goes well with Sedum Autumn Joy and dwarf sea grasses, he said.
Black-Eyed Susans also attract butterflies and finches, Vitti said, "especially the yellow finch."
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