Today in the orchard
The Asters are now in bloom in the orchard. The bees love them, and so do we. Although I can hardly call myself an Aster-expert, I think we may have two of the hundred or so native species: New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and New York Aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii). I’m not entirely sure which is which.
The deep purple Asters in the orchard are likely a named selection of New England Aster. I planted a couple plants a few years ago, and now they are migrating across the orchard with new purple-flowering clumps appearing every year. The bees are happy to have the Asters for their late honey production, and the Asters are happy to have the bees. Aster flowers require cross-pollination to produce viable seed, and it’s the bees that make that happen.