FROST ASTERS ARE IN FULL BLOOM

...FROST ASTER'S CLUSTERS OF SMALL, DAISY-LIKE FLOWERS

THE FROST ASTER; A LARGE, BUSHY PERENNIAL...

RIPE BLACKBERRIES

Saturday, 8:30 AM.  68 degrees F at the ferry dock, 62 on the back porch.  Wind N, light with stronger gusts.  The sky is mostly cloudy with some overcast.  The humidity is 81% and the barometer is falling, currently standing at 29.85".
   The common frost aster, Aster pilosus, is now in full bloom in fields and along roadsides.  There are other similar asters, in the Aster (Asteraceae)Family that it can be confused with, especially Aster ericoides, the heath aster, but the later has flowers with far fewer ray flower "petals."  The asters can be quite confusing, so I limit my comments to a few species that I can be certain of.
   The frost aster is a robust perennial plant, quite bushy, and very floriferous. It is not very fussy about soil, will tolerate dry conditions and prefers full sun.  It is widespread throughout North America and beyond, and is a good plant for a wild garden, but probably too large and vigorous for the perennial garden.
   We picked blackberries at the Larsen camp yesterday evening.  There were lots of ripe berries and more ripening, but they were not as large and sweet as last year's crop.  I don't think we had enough rain during their development.  We picked about a quart, and that will suffice.  Picking blackberries is blood sport (mine).