September Gift Flower: Asters

September gift flowers are New England asters, which are a favorite fall garden flowers.

September Gift Flower: Asters

There is such a lovely variety of colors in this family of flowers, asters. Some of my favorite fall blooming plants belong to this group: White Boneset, White Heath Asters and one of my top favorites, New England Asters.

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, "Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, commonly called New England aster, is a Missouri native perennial which occurs in moist prairies, meadows, thickets, low valleys and stream banks (Steyermark) throughout the State. It is a stout, leafy plant typically growing 3-6' tall with a robust, upright habit.

New England Asters feature a profuse bloom of daisy-like asters (to 1.5" diameter) with purple rays and yellow centers from late summer to early fall. Rough, hairy, lance-shaped leaves (to 4" long) clasp stiff, hairy stems. Flowers are attractive to butterflies" and I will add bees, too.

How to Grow New England Asters

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun, prefers moist, rich soils. Good air circulation helps reduce incidence of foliar diseases. Pinching back stems several times before mid-July will help control plant height, promote bushiness and perhaps obviate the need for staking. Pinching back will also delay flowering.

Most New England Asters are sold early fall when they are in bloom. I buy the plants after bloom, remove the spent flower heads and make sure they are well watered and mulched when I plant them. Any dead branches get left on to help protect the new growth that will start at the plant base. I also give them some water for a couple of months to make sure their roots get established.

Since this is a native Missouri wildflower, it's also easily seen growing on road sides, my garden and a friend's garden.

These are wild Missouri asters growing in a beekeeping friend's side garden.

According to the Language of Flowers, the Victorian Era practice of giving every growing thing meaning. The Victorians used this vocabulary to send secret messages in flower bouquets. In this flowery world of meaning, asters represent "variety" and "spontaneous impulse."

Charlotte

White Cat Plant Stand Gift

The white cat plant stand gift next to the inspiration for the color, Margaret my 18-year old cat.

White Cat Plant Stand Gift

It was delightful to be on the recipient end of a charming and thoughtful birthday gift that came from spending time with a good friend. It's the kind of strategy I recommend to potential customers who call for gift ideas but aren't sure what to select. 

My Navy friend, Margaret, and I had visited the Missouri Botanical Garden a few months ago. During the visit, we stopped by a nearby garden store and I passed up buying a wire cat-shaped plant stand that had caught my eye. At the time I thought I would have to move and I didn't want yet another thing to pack.

Margaret, however, remembered the lingering stop. Months later, the metal cat stand showed up at my house, painted white in honor of her namesake, an 18-year old white Siamese-mix cat who keeps me company when she's not lounging on my deck supervising lizards.

Margaret, the friend, loves cats but is allergic to them so she gets to live vicariously through my feline adventures with her namesake. To think of all of these years laughing at Margaret the cat, I now have a reminder for my deck as well. 

In these days of rapid fire living, being a good listener can offer a number of gift suggestions.

Margaret friend sprayed the metal cat plant stand white to match the white cat named after her.

If you find something you like except for the color, spray paint it. This cat stand was the original grey metal. The white paint turned it into a custom gift with very little cost and effort.

Margaret the cat decides the photo shoot is over, she has lizards to watch.

Whether it's a gift you make, or one that you buy, making it personal doesn't have to be difficult. I can personally attest to how special this kind of gift can be!

Thank you, Margaret!

Charlotte