Leave town for a few days, and what happens? Your Denver Daisy starts pushing up daisies.

As described here, my Denver Daisy -- or Rudbeckia Denver Daisy, as the special plant celebrating the 150th anniversary of Denver is officially known -- got off to a fast start. It germinated almost a week early, and although the next half-dozen days were slow-going, the seedling was definitely started when I left town last Wednesday.

I returned this morning to find: nada. Perhaps the posie was snatched, or maybe it simply disintegrated into dust. I just hope Denver's upcoming birthday celebration doesn't do the same. -- Patricia Calhoun

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