As Autumn starts to flower #phenology

Two flowers in particular signal for us the emergence of Autumn into Summer: asters and chrysanthemums. We've not yet seen asters in bloom along our local roadsides, but the mums have arrived at the local flower stores. We'll confer with the Better Half about how soon and how many mums we'll get this year. We've yet to have any that manage to "over-Winter" along our drive so each Autumn the pumpkins and mums have to be bought fresh. Local whitetail deer help us take care of the pumpkins at season's end, but don't seem much interested in mums.

roadside sky-blue asters

Photo by J. Harrington

We confess to having been pleasantly surprised a few years ago when we discovered that asters are actually wildflowers in Minnesota. Of the fifty-nine Minnesota wildflowers whose name contains 'aster,' we think it's the sky-blue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) that we see along the local roads. This year we think we'll again try planting some potted New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) as well as implanting some of the remaining aster seed balls the Better Half gave us awhile ago. Maybe they'll all take root and brighten up the drive next year, especially if we plant them far enough from the road edge that the township crew isn't likely to mow them.

potted New England asters with bee

Photo by J. Harrington

Purple Aster

 by: May Riley Smith (1842-1927)

Bravely my sweet flower resists

Heat of August, autumn cold;

And though she has amethysts

For her dower, and some gold,

Never roadside beggar passed her

Without nod from purple aster.

Dear plebeian, but for thee

And thy lover, golden-rod,

Lonesomer the road would be

Which the country folk must plod;

And each little maid and master

Would regret thee, purple aster!

When November winds blow chill,

And the fields are brown and sear,

You will find her, cheerful still,

With her lover standing near,

While old Winter fast and faster

Comes to claim brave purple aster.

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