Amethyst Aster at the Guild Inn area / September 23, 2019

We had many Aster species on the 24 degree sunny morning.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum nova-angliae)
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Arrow-leaved Aster can have blue or white flowers.

Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) blue flowers
Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) white flowers

When New England Aster grows near Heath Aster, a hybrid is sometimes produced which shows features of both parents. This is Amethyst Aster.

Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum amethystinum)

Other botany:

Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Purple-flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Pine Cone Willow Gall
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Other nature:

Green Darner
American Toad

Species list: turkey vulture, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, mourning dove, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, gray catbird, northern cardinal, American goldfinch.  (12 species)

Turkey Vulture

Park scenes:

This mornings group:

NATURE POETRY

Girls and Boys (Anonymous)     

The children in the fields at play     

They pluck the flowers that grow;    

 We used to pluck the self-same flowers     

So many years ago.


     We love to watch the children’s game     

Their troubles and their joys;   

 For did we not the very same     

When we were girls and boys?

Miles Hearn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *