Messing with Asteraceae

Asteraceae or the daisy family is one of, if not the biggest, family in the plant world. Everyone loves a daisy from the tiniest insect to the tallest human. Autumn can be a time when Asteraceae really shines.

This year I have planted dahlias from Sweet Pea Stems. They went in late, so they’re blooming late. I’ll have flowers until a hard frost, whenever that decides to show up. Other than the occasional rabbit munch, they’ve been pretty easy going. Which, honestly, is my kind of flower. I think I’ll get another batch next spring instead of digging the tubers. My overwintering space is limited.

The mums have kicked into gear with the heat of September, so they are a little early. We’ll see if they last into December, which is their typical pattern. In the meantime, the bumblebees are enjoying the additional nectar and pollen. I find them napping in the center on cold mornings, allowing me to give them pets. What? Like you’ve never wanted to pet a bumblebee.

Asters and goldenrod are also taking the stage, much to the delight of the myriad pollinating wildlife. The echinacea has finally bowed out and set seed. The goldfinches are stuffing their faces and I’ll have a nice batch of leftover seedheads to catch whatever snow shows up. I love a nice cluster of echinacea in snow hats!