I'm here on a Saturday temporarily and thought I'd do a quick blog. Nice color above with this New England aster (Aster novae-angliae, unknown variety) in the sunken garden but look how floppy it is! This perennial is taking up 80 square feet and smothering neighbors. Staking would have been warranted but better yet, we should have cut this plant back by 50% in early June and perhaps again at the end of June. This would have resulted in a more compact plant with even more blooms. Taller asters spaced amongst ornamental grasses and sturdy neighboring plants would be held up better as well. The color is great but try to minimize the floppiness. Larry, Bill and Dr. Gredler are holding down the fort today. There is a wedding scheduled outside in the rose garden today so we hope the showers will hold off for awhile. It is cool but not overly chilly if you dress for it. Lots of plans for next week as we continue fall clean-up and special event preparations. Below is 'Bright Lights' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) that is quite nutritious and has nice vivid coloration in the garden. The common name for this plant is summer spinach.
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