Since it was getting close to fall a few weeks ago I thought I would do some harvesting.
Of wild plants of course...
Okay, so I never need an excuse, fall or not, but there are so many wild Asters growing at the side of the road on the way to the cottage that I just had to stop and harvest a bunch.
The same kind of Asters I planted last fall at the Ontario cottage.
They create a soft mauve wash as per above and when grouped even more densely, they have an even greater impact.
I planted them around the base of this birch right beside the deck and outdoor shower where they will be sure to be seen next year.
If there is any doubt if it is proper to be taking these plants from the wild, picture this: last week the entire expanse where I had gathered the plants had been mowed down and looked just like a grassy field.
No more gentle wash of mauve swaying in the breeze.
***
Planting plants in full bloom is not recommended, but honestly I find it hard to avoid because a) one must think of it in advance (while it is much easier to be distracted by flowers in bloom), and b) one must recognize them without their flowers.
Next year I will try and remember.
If I put it in my calendar now my phone should remind me in 11 months...
Sharing with Blooming Tuesday, Tuesday Garden Party, Garden Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Nature Notes
If there is any doubt if it is proper to be taking these plants from the wild, picture this: last week the entire expanse where I had gathered the plants had been mowed down and looked just like a grassy field.
No more gentle wash of mauve swaying in the breeze.
***
Planting plants in full bloom is not recommended, but honestly I find it hard to avoid because a) one must think of it in advance (while it is much easier to be distracted by flowers in bloom), and b) one must recognize them without their flowers.
Next year I will try and remember.
If I put it in my calendar now my phone should remind me in 11 months...
Sharing with Blooming Tuesday, Tuesday Garden Party, Garden Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Nature Notes
I love asters, I grow quite a few and almost all are wild species not cultivars.
ReplyDeleteI just love using native plants. It helps that they are 'free', but it is more than that...
DeleteI love them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Gail. :)
DeleteI am trying to plant native plants and remove some non-natives in my yard. Free is the best and we have had some asters volunteer in our yard..thank you for linking up to Nature Notes...Michelle
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by again Michelle, always a pleasure.
DeleteHi Derek, greetings from Northern Ontario. I'm just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
ReplyDeletehttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/
Chris, thanks so much for the compliment, it is very much appreciated. I will check out your blog as well. I am off to the cottage for Thanksgiving and to work on the "Spruce/Moss" Garden I've started there. I can't wait to share more about it soon.
DeleteI've grown to love the native asters--these will be lovely around your birch tree. While you shouldn't dig up plants in nature preserves or public gardens, I agree there's nothing wrong with taking some from roadsides and abandoned fields. I dug up what I thought was prairie phlox a few years ago from the roadside ditch near our house. The neighbors thought I was crazy:)
ReplyDeletePeople's reactions certainly vary. Once I had a woman stop and say what I was doing was wrong (I've wondered if perhaps she thought I was collecting them for resale?) but more than once I have had people stop and ask me to follow them into their properties to an even better spot to harvest.
DeleteIt will be interesting next year to see how well these Asters have taken - I'll write a follow up post for sure.