Friday, October 3, 2014

My favorite plant in the garden this week - "Aster" October Skies

It's October and right on schedule my Aster oblongifolium (or maybe Symphotrichum oblongifolium, depending on your source) 'October Skies' is in her full glory!

Just look at that. Four feet of gorgeous blooms.


Her blooms bring ALL the pollinators to the yard.




I'm just confused when I see that they're supposed to be about 2 foot tall. I've grown this plant in both North Carolina and Massachusetts and it's been about 4 foot tall in both places. I've also read that some people cut them back to keep them short. I don't know why. She's gorgeous as is.


As an added bonus she's a US native, not to Mass. but just to the West of us in New York state.


But this glory is bittersweet because when October Skies blooms I know it's almost the end of the garden season and the beginning of the stuck-indoors-wishing-I-could-get-out-in-the-garden-but-I-can't-until-spring season, the short days and long, cold nights season, the having to wear closed toe shoes season.

Can you tell I don't like New England winters?

thanks to Danger Garden for this meme.

6 comments:

  1. I know what you mean...this is a native in my NY garden and I am always sad to know when I see it that gardening will be ending soon....and mine grows 4 ft tall as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, fall is a bittersweet time for me. The weather is great, I love the leaves changing, I like Halloween and Thanksgiving but then it's a long wait until spring.

      Delete
  2. I love this cultivar. I just picked up 5 more this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I had that kind of space! I love my October Skies and it would be great to have them scattered around (or a very large grouping).

      Delete
  3. Great color, so cheerful! That's a nice looking amsonia too (I think, on the other side of the bench).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, that is an amsonia on the other side of the bench. This spot is actually in my front yard but the tall aster and buddleia block the sight line of the bench from the street so it's almost like a secret spot.

      Delete