Well I don't see me in your photos but I was there. : )
I used incredible restraint and only bought three plants, some dianthus barbatus, heliopsis 'Summer Sun', and rudbeckia hirta. And crud I already had a bunch of rudbeckia hirta seedlings from my 'Goldsturm'. I didn't realize it was the same thing until I looked it up when I got home. I want the one that someone mentioned is fragrant.
Summer Sun was on my wish list but there were so many of them at the sale, I wonder if it's going to reseed like crazy. Hope I don't regret that one.

Rudbeckia subtomentosa is fragrant sometimes. I can't always smell it and when I do it is not strong. The foliage gives off a smell like nice pipe tobacco. This plant is not increasing for me. It is not as vigorous as rudbeckia hirta, but I don't think I have figured out what it likes yet. I went to the sale; I got there after nine. I was still there at the time of the dedication. I have a truck load but I am obsessive. I did my own plumbing this week and it worked so I payed myself in plants. Now I not only have too many tomato plants waiting around in stock tanks, but also a load of perennials. I got hellebores, epimedium, grasses, goldenrod, coneflower, aster, Virginia bluebells, oregano, salvia, tiger eye sumac, sunflowers, probably some weeds. Native plants are weeds and I bought some native plants that I am not familiar with. They look a little beat up from riding over an hour at seventy miles an hour, but I think they will be OK.

Here is a link that might be useful: sweet coneflower

You're right, subtomentosa is the one I was thinking of Thanks. The rudbeckia hirta I bought today might turn out to be a little different from the ones I have so I'll still plant it.
I don't remembering seeing some of the things that you bought Helen. I didn't see epimedium, Tiger Eye sumac or Virginia bluebells. I bet there were others that I missed.

The sumac was very small and a little wilted. The bluebells were ratty looking because they do that after they bloom. The epimedium was too expensive, but at the end of my time there they started marking things down. I don't want it to rain anymore for a while but a misty day would be nice. I feel sorry for my treatment of the plants in the back of the pickup in the wind. If I go again I might take big tubs, but I would have had to weight them down on the trip there to keep them from blowing out.

Would you believe I forgot all about the sale! I did get some good weeding done and more mulching......and, I repeat, I do not need any more plants.

Helen, epimediums are supposed to do well in dry, shady spots and compete with tree roots....sound like a good plant.

Christie, I think the hirta is different from Golsturm which is a rudbeckia fulgida and is perennial. Hirtas aren't but are supposed to self-seed well. I have one that does. I think you will find them different.

I keep getting heliopsis and rudbeckias confused in my beds,but I think it is rudbeckias that something is eating the heck out of....last year it was a tiny fuzzy black worm. I don't see the worms this year but the leaves are holey....also my one remaining echinacea is threadbare.

At least you all had a great sale day. I was afraid it would be raining.

Helen, you may have to invest in a large Rubbermaid tub with a lid.....a couple of rocks would hold it down. I want to see everyone's plants when they get them planted.

Ok Glenda - Thanks for correcting me. I just happened to come across a link for "rudbeckia hirta Goldsturm" when I was looking so I assumed that's what it was but you're right. Nearly every other site has it listed as fulgida. But I already have some annual rudbeckias too that may be hirta. Still wasted three bucks. lol

I haven't noticed anything eating the foliage of my rudbeckias yet but I bet I will eventually since you do. Some kind of little worms ate the seeds of my echinacea last year before they finished forming. I wanted to collect seeds from my favorite one but they were ruined.

I eyed those helebores but didn't buy any. I have a few (most from the MG sale a couple years ago) but that's something that it's nice to have a lot of. They're one of the few things that can hold up in dry shade.

Hope your plants recover from the trip Helen.

Below is a pic of what I got. I too didn't see a lot of what Helen mentioned and assume I missed out. Like I need more to plant. I like your paying yourself in plants, Helen. :D

Christie, not that I expect you to remember, but I was the "wholesome" chick in the white t-shirt with the black military style pants. All those leg pockets came in handy. There was a lot of the Firecracker goldenrod I got so I too am worried it might be invasive.

Glenda, something is chomping my echinacea too. It looks terrible and I don't remember it happening previously.

Those are good looking plants. You all should have worn colored hats or scarves or ribbons so you could recognize each other!

I said I wouldn't but I will break out something to spray with tomorrow....I found two echinaceas and they were almost ruined! Dratted insects.

I would not like to fight the crowd I see in your picture. If I go again, I will try to be there about nine - the same time I got there Sat.. There were still plenty of plants for me. I may have missed something good but I had fun. Your plants do look good; mine are all covered up because I was afraid of frost last night. It is cold here.

The scarves are a good idea, lol.

You know, it was SO crowded that I missed things anyway so I suspect getting there later wouldn't really be an issue. Next year I probably will (go later, that is).