ASTER UMBELLATUS

PATCH OF FLAT-TOPPED WHITE ASTER..

...ASTER UMBELLATUS...

ATTRACTS BEES AND BUTTERFLIES

Monday, 9:00 AM.  53 degrees F at the ferry dock and on the back porch. as well.  Wind ESE, calm with occasional light gusts,  The sky is overcast and it rained earlier, the humidity still 87%.  The barometer is steady, at 29.92". Highs from 65 to 70 the next few days, with thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, then clearing Wednesday and Thursday.
   I am adding another species to my list of easily identified asters.  It is blooming across the street so I have had ample opportunity to observe it.  At first I thought ita light colored azure aster, but its flower clusters are really quite distinctive, and like the species name indicates, almost  umbrella like.
   The flat-topped white aster, Aster umbellatus, in the Sunflower Family (Compositae) is native to the eastern and northeastern US, west to Minnesota and Illinois.  It prefers calcareous, sandy, moist soils and sun to partial shade. It attracts bees and butterflies, and is somewhat deer resistant. It bears copious daisy-like blooms  from early summer to fall and is quite attractive, and a good selection for wild gardens, rain gardens  and landscape restorations.  Keep an eye on it if you plant it in your perennial garden, as it is pretty aggressive.