“Asters”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
The asters I received from my mother’s garden have started blooming in earnest. These perennials have really done well this year. I planted little seedings in 2008, and they did okay last year, but this year they have really grown and flourished. I am hoping to get my own seedlings so that I can have even more for the circle garden. That area of the garden has really suffered this summer. It seems to need watering daily, which is surprising since I put out the sprinklers for about two hours at a time. But, these plants have done so well even under hot, dry conditions that I am hoping to get little seedlings of my own to expand their planting area.
While taking a photo of these asters for this post, I was surprised how their color comes out so differently in the picture than in real life. In the photo they are a lovely shade of blue which would be great in the garden, but, unfortunately, that is not their true color. In real life they are a light shade of purple which is perfect for late summer/early fall. I don’t know why they don’t photograph the correct color, but I have had other flowers do the same thing, my ageratum, for example, photographs pink instead of purple.
I just think these clusters of daisy-like flowers are so cheerful looking especially since most of the summer flowers are starting to fade. After they finish blooming, I just lightly shear them back and soon there are new flowers showing up in the garden.
I just realized that it is the spring and fall flowering plants that I seem to concentrate on in my garden, and summer flowers don’t seem to get me as excited. It probably is because I am in the garden just about daily in fall through spring. Because of our summer heat, I am not out working in the garden nearly as much as when the temperatures are cooler. I guess these asters thrill me because I know it won’t be long before the other favorite fall bloomers will be showing up.
Always Growing 
Janet said,
August 26, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Think you are on to something with the heat detering your interest with summer blooms.
Are you photographing in full sun? I find colors really wash out with too much light.
Jan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:15 am
No, Janet, I do not photograph in full sun. I try to take morning pics before nine o’clock and afternoon ones after five or six. I think sometimes it is the flower’s pigment that doesn’t allow it to photograph true to color. Maybe I’ll have to “google it” to find out the real reason.
Jake said,
August 27, 2009 at 6:39 am
I had an Aster in my yard in KY that bloomed purple. I have one picture that it showed the purple all of the other’s they are blue. Pretty flowers, they are another great plant to have for fall blooming.
Jake
Jan said,
August 31, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Jake, I couldn’t agree more about these being great fall bloomers. I just love mine.
mothernaturesgarden said,
August 27, 2009 at 11:03 am
I saw a very attractive combination of asters and sedum Autumn Joy
recently.
Donna
Jan said,
August 31, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Donna, I bet that was a great combination. I keep saying that I am going to get some Autumn Joy, and I don’t know why I haven’t yet. I’ll have to do something about this.
Linnie said,
August 27, 2009 at 11:55 am
Hi Jan
I have been catching up on your blog and enjoying it so much. My computer went west last Thursday and I am up and running again today. It is so great to visit your blog I was having withdrawal symtoms but I am sure I will recover quickly.
Linnie in Desrehan, La 8/27/09
Jan said,
August 31, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Thanks, Linnie, for your kind comments about my blog. I know it is hard to be without a computer for any length of time once you get used to using one daily. I know I can’t stand to be without one.