ramazz, no it wasn't yours but that one is sure pretty, very unusual. It was a photo by the side of a house with two large patches of PS and some other flower. They weren't exactly like my photo either as to double. Kind of a double decker effect except the top part was the same size as the bottom. That's how I remember it anyway, and often my memory plays tricks on me. If I can find that thread again, I'll link to it, too far back now. token, one person's trash is another's treasure. I know photos can only show us so much, but I find yours rather interesting, not that I'd run right out and grow it. Expecting something different may skew your perception of it, but I'd let it grow another year and see what it is like. I think it's kind of pretty actually, certainly different. Nice assortment of flowers and plants in your photo. But if you have your heart set on a nice cherry brandy, I'd hope to get some seeds from posters who have the prettiest ones or just try something else. But before you shovel prune it, maybe somebody on freecycle would want it or gasp, somebody here might want some seeds from it. Or a plant hybridizer. Look at what you've got, something truly unique even though not to your liking. If it were crossed with other ones, it could lead to some stunning new Rudbeckia. A grower might even be interested in it. I don't know if white has even shown up in Rudbeckias before or not, and the potential for crosses, good bad and ugly are endless.

I don't think it is a geranium. Someone posted what I think is the same thing on the Name that Plant forum and it was suggested that it could be Virginia Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum. I'm not so sure that is it, but it certainly looks possible. I have seen this before (perhaps even in my own woods), but have never identified it. Here is a link that might be useful: The other thread on Name that Plant

Sarah Looks like a big eyed bug to me. There are several varieties and all that I have read about are supposed to be beneficials. I see them quite often in my garden. I have never seen them do anyting more than fly around, so I cannot confirm if they are in fact beneficial. On the other hand I have also never seen them doing damage so the jury is still out. Matt

That is definately not a Japanese Beetle. It does have, from what I can see the general shape of one of the Stink Bug family members some of which are beneficial while others are pests.