Mid September/October roadsides , prairies and bike trails in Bluff Country see the exuberant explosion of purples, blues and whites of the native Asters. Their bright blooms are one of the joys in the changing season. There being many different models of this particular plant and the fact that some of them "interbeed" I'd make no claim at expertise in identifying each and every one. Still, short or tall, an aster is an aster and for fall color, I love them all. Take a look at a few along the bike trail. 
Amidst the beautiful colors of the blues and purples are the whites: wood aster, calico aster, small-flowered white aster and flat-topped white aster, like bright candles in the Autumn dusk.
The first to bloom among the white asters is the wood aster, opening its starry flowers under the trees in late August. The small-flowered white asters and calico asters come next. Calico Asters are so named because the white ray flowers can surround either yellow or purple disk flowers on the same plant. The aspect is one of an old fashioned calico fabric spread across the bushy plants, which can reach a height of 5 feet, but are often smaller.
I would be remiss if I didn't show you my five year project of creating a mini-prairie along the ditch bank facing our front road. The blue and deep purple asters are doing their thing the last week of Sept. and will continue for a least another month.....
And so we'll conclude our aster foray with a peek into the past with my all time best buddy Baron. He's standing in a field of white asters at Lake Louise State Park and saying in the immortal words of Humphrey Bogart..."here's looking at you kid."
Hi Troutbirder - lovely ... they are a marvel at this time of year ... and congratulations on your prairie ... good old Baron - wonderful showing and read - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYou got my attention so I looked them up and they will grow here. I love what you have done with them and the splash of fall color.
ReplyDeleteAster are beautiful! Yes it is hard to distinguish one from another unless you have a degree in botany! I think they are all beautiful:)
ReplyDeleteThat is one very successful prairie. You did a good job of finding plants that just have taken off and then over the ditch. I remember seeing the last two wild asters in Iowa but I am not familiar with the purple ones in the wild. I bought a purple one for my front yard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a photo of your handsome Baron!
ReplyDeleteI'd say you're an expert on asters. Nice assortment of flowers in the ditch.
ReplyDeleteAsters were always a favourite of mine. It's not a fussy plant, they seem to grow anywhere. Love your mini-prairie.
ReplyDeleteThey are an autumn treat for sure.
ReplyDeleteWonderful asters a real treat for the eyes. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I see those first asters, I always know summer is near it's end. They tell me what to expect and prepare for.Next time you visit near Des Moines stop at Neal Smith National Wildlife area outside of Prairie City. They have a seed packet with42 varieties of seed, along with a magnificent area including elk and bison.
ReplyDeleteI love asters. They are bit of an old-fashioned flower I think because they are not seen so much in shops anymore. This must be a beautiful sight to see them growing wild like this.
ReplyDeleteLove your tribute to the late summer asters.
ReplyDeleteYou've worked very hard!
ReplyDeleteI love what you've created. It has the wild but orderly look of an English hillside ... gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI know the purple ones and the white ones but not the yellow asters. Last flowers before the frost -- so enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLovely little prairie. More folks need to do something like that. Good for the earth and good for the soul. I do love the asters of all colors and sizes.
ReplyDeleteIn those first 5 photos I really like the way you put the ID on there. Nice! And, wow, your mini prairie is looking great!
ReplyDelete