Tuesday, July 19, 2011

ABC Wednesday: A is for Asters and Archives

I couldn't believe it when my fairy asters started blooming in late June this year.
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Although we had a very hot June, we had a chilly spring and fairy asters never bloom before September where I live in NC.
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They bloom after most flowers are dying back and sometimes don't reach full bloom until they get hit by an October frost.
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To make sure my memory was correct I went to my archives. The first two shots are in late June and early July of this year (2011). The shot above and below are from mid and late September of 2010.
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My archives are arranged by date and I also have put in names for what are in the folders to make searching easier.
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The shot above and below are from mid and late Septemeber of 2009
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The next shot of my fairy asters was taken in late September of 2008.
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The last two aster shots were taken in mid to late September of 2007.
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2007 wasn't a good year for these asters because they weren't in full bloom until they got hit by an October frost. This year is even worse because they aren't able to deal well with being in bloom in the heat of the summer and are already looking dreary.
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34 comments:

  1. Maude LynnJuly 19, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    They are really lovely!

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  2. Gigi AnnJuly 19, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    The Fairy Asters are lovely, and, until today I always called them some kind of Daisy. We live and learn so much from our visits to ABC Wednesday.

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  3. Sylvia KJuly 19, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    What lovely flowers and marvelous captures for the A Day!! Hope your week is going well, Carver! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  4. Jane and ChrisJuly 19, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I love the name 'fairy asters'.
    Jane x

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  5. Gerald (SK14)July 19, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    ah asters - they look like big daisies to me.

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  6. Roger Owen GreenJuly 19, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    How horticulturally organized you are. Yes, the weather patterns of the past don't predict the future at all..

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  7. Kay L. DaviesJuly 19, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    You're right. This year is right off the charts as far as weather is concerned. Everything is out of synch and behind schedule, including your lovely Asters.
    Very pretty, though, Carver.

    —Kay, Alberta, Canada

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  8. janeJuly 19, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    What gorgeous little flowers - I have something similar in my rockery but it has a darker leaf - I am well impressed with your archives - I have started a gardening blog called Marigold - which I shall use to refer back to - when I can get it up to date!

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  9. photowannabeJuly 19, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    That is such a great name for the lovely flowers.
    Like Gigi Ann, I would have called them daisies.
    It seems my plants don't know what time of year it is either. Crazy weather does strange things to the growing cycle.

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  10. WandaJuly 19, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Oh what lovely "asters"...I always thought of them as daisies.

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  11. Leslie:July 19, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    Beautiful ASTERS! They look a bit like the daisy (are they related?) I especially love the closeup photo. Have a wonderful week,

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  12. Tumblewords:July 19, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    This is the second 'most unusual' year we've had and things are blooming early or late - seems like the clocks have all gone awry. Your archiving is admirable!

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  13. MerylJuly 19, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Absolutely fascinating! This has been a very weird weather year and you have proof right here.

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  14. CarverJuly 19, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Thanks to everyone for visiting. To answer the questions about fairy asters they are - Fairy Aster (Aster vimineus) is in the Family: Aster (Asteraceae). In terms of the relation to daisies - "Asteraceae or Compositae, (the aster, daisy, or sunflower family), comprise the largest family of vascular plants."

    "Aster (syn. Diplopappus Cass.) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae."

    Here's a link to more information about fairy asters - http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/floramw/species/astevimi.htm

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  15. Live2cherishJuly 19, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Your asters look lovely.
    Isn't it a good sign that they spring up when other flowers die, i guess it likes the "fame".
    I liked the idea of archiving pics by dates, used to do on hard copies when young.

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  16. Chubskulit RoseJuly 19, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Those are beautiful!

    Please come and see someArt Expression at my page, thanks.

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  17. Paula Scott Molokai Girl StudioJuly 19, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Yes, agreed. Ours here blooms in the fall. Except, yours look white. Ours are this wonderful shade of lavender/purple. I am perplexed as to why your asters there are already blooming.

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  18. J.Rylie.CJuly 19, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    The butterfly is so beautiful!

    A is for Appreciation, your visit will be so much appreciated, thanks!

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  19. EJJuly 19, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Gorgeous blooms.

    Please come see my Abstract post.

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  20. HildredJuly 19, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Maybe this is just a little advance blooming, Carver, - my chrysanthemums do that sometimes - a sad display in July and then magnificence in September.

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  21. HazelJuly 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    Fairy Asters. What a charming name!

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  22. Chronicles of IllusionsJuly 20, 2011 at 12:24 AM

    They are so beautiful. Love the shots

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  23. Reader WilJuly 20, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    Well that's interesting! Does that mean we are in for an early winter? I hope not.Anyway the flowers are very pretty!

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  24. Cezar and LéiaJuly 20, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Adorable flowers, all pictures are very beautiful!
    Léia

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  25. Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪July 20, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    The weather changes, and nature is all confused.

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  26. KateJuly 20, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Delicate and beautiful blooms.

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  27. MarthaJuly 20, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Very pretty. In the fall I will have purple asters growing along the edges of my yard. They are one of my favorite wildflowers.

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  28. ElizabethJuly 20, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Now that is a really interesting reflection and beautiful images, too. x

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  29. EG CameraGirlJuly 20, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    I hope you get enough rain for the asters to look splendid in September. I'm thinking it might not yet be too late. :)

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  30. B i r g i t t aJuly 20, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Lovely A flowers and you also got a butterfly :)

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  31. Maria's SpaceJuly 20, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    Is that what they are. Lovely collection of pretty flowers.
    http://reesspace.blogspot.com/2011/07/mission-completed-in-less-than-1-week.html

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  32. CildemerJuly 20, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Very nice entry for A day and your asters are lovely!
    Mine are blue and they are blooming too!
    Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting my place and taking the time to comment;o)

    ***
    Have a nice and happy day****

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  33. nonizamboniJuly 20, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    Nice chronicle of those beautiful asters--my mom's favorite.
    Happy new ABC round!

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  34. IndraniJuly 21, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    Whoa! Truly beautiful captures.

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Thank you so much for your comments. I read and appreciate any and all comments. If I delete a comment it is only because I'm trying to deal with a lot of spam. If I delete a comment which isn't spam, it's an accident so please accept my apology.

NOTE - I have recently had issues where some comments don't show up in my blog but I am receiving all of them through email. The blooger hiccup seems to be fixed but I'm going to leave this note up so I don't jinx it.