Friday, September 30, 2011

So That's What They Are—Autumn Asters

Phew! I'm glad I left these plants in this planter. I wasn't even sure they were actual flowers until last week, and have been rewarded with these pretty, light purple Asters.

This photo of the ceramic pot full of lush green leaves, above, ran in the blog on July 2nd. At the time, I knew I had planted a marigold in the center of it, but couldn't remember what the majority of leaves around it belonged to. They were coming up all around the perimeter, so were clearly meant to be there; they weren't just weeds. I left them, and last week was rewarded with lavender Asters. The marigold was quite large, with solid orange flowers, but in a recent torrential downpour, most of the stems were broken. There is just a small part of it growing out to the left now. I'll remember these Asters next year! As perennials, they withstood the winter's snow on the porch just fine and I'm sure they will be just as pretty next fall.

Other Asters Around Town
Cultivated pink Asters, found planted in front of a small business.

Wild mini white Asters creating a 4-foot high mound of bee-loving flowers next to the railroad tracks.

A small cluster of wild purple Asters growing about twelve feet off the side of a small road, right at the line where the woods began. They are only about 8-10 inches high.

The same cluster of wild purple Asters from a different angle. I pointed these out to several people walking by as I photographed them, and most didn't seem to care, lol. 

This variety of wild white Asters is blooming all around town right now. There are literally millions of these roadside "weeds" abloom. I'm always surprised they make it to this floral stage. For 99% of the growing season, they are completely nondescript in appearance, just another green weed. 

6 comments:

  1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. I GOT FLOWERS. THANKS CASEY. LOVE THEM. ESPECIALLY THE ASTORS BECAUSE YOU LET THEM BLOOM. THESE PICTURES MADE MY DAY. YOU ALWAYS COME THROUGH. HIGH FIVE. GRANNY

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  2. They have those wonderful little plant tags [or you can make your own] to stick in the ground as a reminder that 'someone live here'.

    Keep it up Casey, Lavender is fast become my favorite shade of 'blue'. lol

    @ GRANNY - Well look at you gf... have a great day and a very Happy Birthday to boot. I hope you got the dancing boys I sent....well Px was suppose to deliver in person, I trust he did.

    ;)

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  3. THANKS GUYS, CASEY THE FLOWERS YOU SENT WERE LOVELY. EVEN GRAMPS SAID IT WAS PRETTY. NO DANCING BOYS BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME POSTING TODAY AND IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COMPUTER.I HATE THE NEW F/B AND THE DASDBOARD IS SCREWED UP ALSO. TIME TO ICE MY BIRTHDAY DUMP CAKE. SO SO GOOD.

    GRANNY

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  4. Happy B-day!

    And great pictures for the wonderful occasion.

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  5. your asters just don't look like mine mine have thick stems and are tall and they are wild from the woods, the color of mine is blueish-purple and the center is yellow all the leaves are small and green and kind of ruff if you feel them and the stem is thick green and brown and the roots are small and white at first i thought mine was a daisy flower.

    your orange flowers look great in 3 to 4 years I'll have some butterfly weed flowers because i have some growing from seeds

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