Aster - Where have you been all my life?



I've not grown Aster before, more fool me. This is 'Little Carlow' and what a star. There's somewhere around three trillion (I counted) buds yet to burst open with their lavender bluey loveliness and, no mildew anywhere. Result.



It's flopping over the iron railings which is just fine by me. Flop all it wants on that side, I've supported it with twiggy bits on the other as it was menacing a Panicum 'Squaw' which, by the way, are also looking really good, but that's for another day.

I planted three Aster x frikartii 'Monch' in a new bit of garden I'm putting together. They'll take it dry, flower even earlier and have big ol' blooms. Should look beautiful next year.

Comments

  1. Hermes29 August 2011 at 14:02

    They can get a bit untidy but are such a site at this time of year.

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  2. Diane29 August 2011 at 14:16

    They look gorgeous at the moment. Diane

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  3. Phillip Oliver29 August 2011 at 14:54

    A sign that Fall is coming!

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  4. Benjamin Vogt29 August 2011 at 16:46

    Now Rob, I have about 10 different species of aster so I have blooms into November. Go get more aster. It'll save your sanity. Promise.

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  5. Anonymous29 August 2011 at 19:35

    Looks great! I have not heard of this one but I love the color. I too planted Aster 'Monch' this year. Just one but it is doing great so far and not flopping yet. One other that I have that I adore is the black foliaged 'LIttle Prince' with a bajillion white flowers with a small maroon center. Looks cool against the black foliage.

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  6. James Golden29 August 2011 at 20:42

    Benjamin's right.

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  7. Tatyana@MySecretGarden29 August 2011 at 21:11

    Ohh, how beautiful!

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  8. Landbohaven29 August 2011 at 21:28

    Hvor er det smuk.

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  9. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)29 August 2011 at 22:56

    Hermes you're right, the leaves can get a bit messy, n'er mind.

    Diane thanks. There are plenty around all looking good right now.

    Fall is in the air Phillip. I like it, mushroom season.

    Benjamin I will grow more. The soil is very free draining and often dry here so I'll have to avoid the New England types as it isn't ideal for them. The main reason for the recent planted Fricarts aster is it's ability to cope with these conditions.

    Andrea I'll google 'little prince'.

    James cheers, ditto Benjamin.

    Tatyana thanks, same to you re the foxgloves.

    Landbohaven. that translates from goole as 'where is the beauty'.
    I'll tell you, it's there, right there.

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  10. F Cameron29 August 2011 at 23:41

    Very lovely! I love asters, but the bunnies never let mine get more than six inches high before eating them down. So, no more here.

    You'll love Aster x frikartii 'Monch'. That was one of the first ones that I planted. I got to enjoy it for one year before the bunnies located it.

    All is well here (at my house) post-hurricane. I think we're about to get more rain and wind tonight than we did with Irene.

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  11. Anna30 August 2011 at 10:03

    A great choice Rob. I noticed yesterday that my 'Little Carlow' is just opening. As well as looking so pretty they are a magnet for bees, butterflies and hover flies. It also has quite a long flowering period. "Monch" is a beauty too. Out already here is aster divaricatus which is great for lighting up a shady spot - if you have any of those :)

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  12. Tara Dillard30 August 2011 at 21:39

    Please tell me you're getting a billion butterflies on your aster too.

    Garden & Be Well, XO T

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  13. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)31 August 2011 at 07:14

    Hi Freda, glad all is well and Irene didn't unleash much in your neck of the woods.

    Well it would appear I'm in the 'you got deer' gang. Saw at least 10 run across the bottom of the field early yesterday morning. The farmers (otherside of the river) electric fence was out of power, the cattle didn't notice.

    I'm looking forward to 'monch' for next year.

    Hi Anna. Aster divaricatus looks interesting. It'll join my growing aster wants lidt.

    Hi Tara. A billion and seven to be exact. Again, I counted

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  14. sweetbay31 August 2011 at 16:24

    Your asters look gorgeous. I love asters too. Willow-leaved aster blooms through November, right through frosts.

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  15. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)2 September 2011 at 12:02

    Hi Sweetbay, I'd love to grow willow leaved aster but I'm not sure I have the right conditions here, most of my garden is a little too free draining,

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  16. Landbohaven3 September 2011 at 20:02

    Hvor er de smukke.
    Tak for kigget.

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  17. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)4 September 2011 at 11:35

    No problem landbohaven,

    Anytime I can help.

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  18. Tina6 September 2011 at 08:13

    What an abundance of beauty!

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  19. Patrick's Garden15 September 2011 at 09:13

    They look beautiful flopping all over the place. Just a delight to see.

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  20. Denise21 September 2011 at 16:43

    I've been thinking about Monch again for next year too. Amazingly good plant that doesn't mind zone 10.

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  21. Xaxmac23 September 2011 at 08:42

    'Lac de Joncs rules' for great selections of asters - what a joy!

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