Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Alert!

Be.

Two weeks ago, aster 'Alert' looked like this.
(Buddelia 'Adonis Blue' (a short cultivar), "Mattie" Phlox nearby)

I've never much enjoyed mums. Everyone has them (not a good reason),
they seem to be the yellows, browns, rusts of Fall (already prevalent)...

but check out Asters! :-)

'Alert'
Here's a website that has much information (there are many such sites).

20 comments:

Sherri B. said...

Thanks for the link. I so appreciate it when our blogger friends share links so we can all be better informed.

Have a nice Fall day.

Darla said...

Nice asters and I love the Monarch on the hummer feeder in your last post!

Pat said...

Lots of asters ! Looking good...great color.
I know what you mean about mums.

Rosemary said...

Shady I agree with you love asters over mums... The colours sensational.

Chloe m said...

Hands down, Asters rule.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Sherri B, You're welcome. I could never profess to being an expert, so I'll enjoy reading the information more in depth myself. :-)

Hi Darla, Glad you stopped by. Love seeing all the butterflies (but esp. the Monarchs) these days!

Patsi, Rosemary and Rosey, I'm so glad you agree! It's not that mums aren't very nice, it's just that we all have our 'druthers. ;-)

Gail said...

Asters are the best for fall color! gail

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Gail! :-)

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

So beautiful!! My Aster buds are still mostly unopened, and we had a pretty hard frost last night. Hard to know what will happen...

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

I'm with you, I like asters much better than mums, I guess because the buggies like the asters better than the mums.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

'Alert' looks like a nice sized plant and, of course, the color is spiffy. I might have to invite this one to my garden. Give me asters any day.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Rebecca, IGW and MMD! Thank you for concurring with me about asters. I felt as though I'd stepped out on a limb... ha!

troutbirder said...

Your right Shady, the asters are special. Here the New England variety is coming into its own all over the prairie remnants. I hope to eventually get some patches going in one of my wildflower gardens. :)

Shady Gardener said...

Troutbirder, I've seen the New England variety blooming all over down here, too. It'd be a great addition to your wildflower gardens!! (Will you post a photo of them?)

Noelle Johnson said...

I love asters....especially the bright purple ones. What a nice flower for the fall garden :-)

PS. I love the quilt.

Anonymous said...

Bravo Sista!! Mums don't belong in my garden but Asters are awesome. I don't have 'Alert' but it looks like a doozy.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Noelle, Thanks! I think now I'd like to get some pinky-purple ones!

Grace, ;-)!!

BGgarden said...

You are so on it with this share! Happy Autumn Gardening.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I've not heard of 'Alert'. It sure is a beauty. I have several kinds of asters that I don't remember all the names for.

I've never been a fan of growing mums. They either spread more than I want them to, or else die out after a couple years. I do have a pink kind, 'Debonair' that I'm liking OK. My husband has been seeing the pots of blooming mums at the grocery stores, and saying he'd like me to grow more mums. I haven't seen any I like, and plan to act like I forgot his request.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Bren, Thanks for visiting. :-)

Sue, I think I remember your 'Debonair.' I'm going to check that out, too. (Do you call that "selective hearing?") lol