Blanket flower, also known as gaillardia, is an easy-to-grow, short-lived wildflower with richly colored, daisy-like blooms. These fast-growing plants mature to 24 inches tall with a 20-inch spread.

The flower used to make the winner's blanket is actually the Viking Mum, or Viking Pom. It is yellow, and, like the Black-eyed Susan, it has a dark center. Thousands are used and handpicked each year.

Annual Blanket Flower Also called firewheel for its flame-colored blooms, annual blanket flower, Gaillardia pulchella, grows 12 to 24 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide.

Each individual flower is handwoven into an 8-foot mat by florists from Giant stores across the region, something Giant has been doing for 27 years. "What we do is we cut off the stem of the flower.