Friday, October 30, 2009

Blooming Friday


mauve autumn asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in our garden


Autumn asters or New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae , formerly Aster novae-angliae) are perennial plants that are easy to grow. You plant the roots, preferably in autumn (but you can also plant them in spring) and the following year (or even the autumn of the same year if you planted them in spring), you’ll have a profusion of lovely mauve flowers with a yellow central disk that resembles the sky on a sunny cloudless day.


They bloom well from August until November or even December if the weather is clement. And when winter comes, there’s no need to worry about them as they are quite hardy. Just don’t forget to put some compost every spring so you’ll continue to have these spectacular flowers year after year.


I love looking at these flowers as they are quite soothing, not only to the eyes, but also to one’s spirit. Maybe it’s due to its color, or maybe because they flower when the frenzy of summer is slowly subsiding into a more tranquil autumn. Or maybe because they appear when the air is filled with the sweet scent of ripe apples and crisp red leaves lazily falling down on the ground. Whatever the reason is, one thing I’m sure of is that these asters are one of my favorite flowers.

see my other blooming fridays
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9 comments:

Vilt og vakkert said...

Hello!
Just beautiful...
Have a nice weekend from Bjorg Nina

Katarina said...

Candy for the eye! Your shots of the eye are fabulous! It's great to have flowers blooming during autumn.
Enjoy your weekend!
Katarina

easygardener said...

Yours are a lovely colour. I have only one plant in the garden because Asters suffer badly from mildew here. A pity as they are otherwise very easy to grow and are good for colour at this time of year.

sweetbay said...

Asters are one of my favorite flowers too. I love your description of autumn. Your photos are top-notch, very beautiful!

The Bumbles said...

A house in our neighborhood has one of these plants growing at the end of their driveway. I had been trying to find out what it was called forever - that neighbor was never out and about when I drove by! So one weekend while my Mom was visiting I asked her as we drove by what the heck that plant was. She told me it was a Fall Aster. And now here is your post to remind me again. I look forward to finally planting some in the Spring - it is getting a little late now for my gardening efforts this season.

Unknown said...

Hi Lareine!!
Good to "see" you again though after a gap. Asters are my fave too. Great shots as usual. The words you use and the imagery are fabulous.

Govind

Unknown said...

They are hardy and beautiful! Such lovely happiness!

Angel.Pearls said...

GREAT COLORS! Thanks for your visit!//Eva

lareine said...

to everybody: thanks for dropping by and taking the time to leave a note... i really appreciate it...

to easygardener: maybe you can try planting them in pots and put them somewhere where they won't get too wet as they're really great to have in autumn :)...

to the bumbles: hope they'll bloom next autumn... if not, have a little patience because when they do, they won't disaapoint you :)...

to govind: it's nice to be "back" :)... i just hope i won't get the "blog-block bug" again :)

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