It’s been about 3 weeks since my last post. As most of you know, I’ve been grappling with chemotherapy during this time, and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. Chemotherapy doesn’t leave a lot of energy for other things.
Nevertheless, I wanted to get in another short post, this one about Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), definitely one of my favorite Asters. The two qualities I especially like best about Aromatic Aster are first, that it is relatively compact; and second, that the flowers tend to have a deeper blue that you will find in most asters. Also, it’s a relatively late-blooming Aster and provides color late into the season (though I should confess I took these photos over 2 weeks ago).
Back in the spring I replaced the Catmint that was growing along the western edge of the Driveway Border with Aromatic Aster, which seems to appreciate the hot afternoon sun. I think it was a good choice.
That’s about all for now. Tomorrow, I realize, is the election. Like most of you, I am in a state of intense anxiety, but frankly I don’t have anything new to say on the subject – except that if you or anyone in your household has not yet voted, for heaven sake please do so.
Otherwise, be well.
gardeninacity 
Wishing you & your family well!
The aster looks great lining the walkway. I didn’t realize it would be fragrant. Nice. Does it spread or reseed? I have a bad aster that is a real problem. Continuing to send well wishes.
Sending healing thoughts your way.
That looks absolutely gorgeous there.
Yes, vote! Make sure that it counts too, if it needs to be postmarked by tomorrow, or arrived by tomorrow.
Beautiful, beautiful! So good to hear from you, but if you need to rest, then that’s exactly what you should do. Clif and I voted a couple of weeks ago. Now we wait.
Thanks, Jason. Makes a lovely border.
Stay Strong!!!
I’ve noted your absence and have been thinking about you and Judy. It’s good to find your post and good to know that you are resting. The asters make a lovely border — good choice! As for voting and anxiety, true words. My ballot went in a couple weeks ago. Now waiting to exhale.
The name alone is lovely. (Not the botanical one I may add! 😉) Good to hear from you and I again wish you all the best Jason. I can recommend deep breathing exercises to stay calm i er the next couple of days. (I have needed them a lot this year!)
What a gorgeous little Aster this is, I only tend to use the super tall ones in the gardens I look after in the UK, so it has got me thinking about looking out for it, for next years garden borders here in Shropshire in the UK. Wishing you all the very very best with your chemo, Sally x
That looks like the aster I find in a local park and I’ve wondered what its name was. I’ll have to smell it next year. It looks great along the walk.
I hope you’ll stay as well as you can and get plenty of rest.
Good to see you posting again, Jason. The asters are beautiful!
Glad you’re back. I think you made the right choice replacing the cat mint with this aster.
Thanks for using some of your minimal energy to share these lovely asters with your fans! I got a mail in ballot and drove it to the drop box. Rec’d my email saying it was counted, yay. 2020 has been one helluva year so far! Take care, Jason.
These are beautiful and so tidy! I’m login to try them. Sending you good thoughts.
That is a nice small aster and does well near the heat of a driveway? Perfect. Nice to see you feeling well enough to blog. I voted in person 2 weeks ago. Let’s hope tomorrow will heal us all.
You and Judy have been on my mind. Glad to hear a little from you…and about asters! I need to add more asters, this one sounds like a winner. Hoping for good news tomorrow or the day after.
Good to hear from you and to know you’re hanging in there with your treatment plan. I voted weeks ago and will be like everyone else just waiting to see how it all plays out. Stay safe and I hope all is going as good as it can and you’re coping with the chemo.
Good to see you here Jason. You must be having a good day. You can rest assured that my husband and I have voted. Your aromatic aster is sweet. I have an edge like that that is screaming for attention. Cheers and best wishes….
The aromatic aster was another of your previous recommendations which I planted and your post has reminded me to reorder next year!
Fingers, toes, and everything that can be crossed through tomorrow. With hopes that the outcome will leave no doubt.
Best to you through your debilitating treatment.
I missed you, so was really pleased to see this post, Gorgeous asters, and yes, please vote everyone. Please keep your readers sweet with kitty updates….onwards!!! xxxx
I love aromatic asters, too. Sending all good thoughts for enjoying your garden and past versions.
I’ve been thinking about you and Judy a good bit, and I’m so pleased to see your post. The asters are glorious. In spite of their name, an article I found from the Chicago Botanic Garden says the flowers don’t have any fragrance, although the leaves are pleasantly scented when crushed.
I know your treatment is difficult, and wearying. It’s only reasonable that you would focus on that, but I am glad that you have your garden around you for some cheer.
Lovely little aster, must try and find it over here. I will be thinking of you all tomorrow and hope that you get the result the world wants! Thinking of you and Judy as you go through your treatment and hoping it will have a good outcome.
I love your asters along the driveway, they are very rewarding plants, even in our variable climate. Glad to see your post and that you are managing the chemo….best wishes to you and Judy, and as I wrote on Laurie’s blog, best wishes in the coming days for your beautiful country…we will be watching with hope.
Good to hear from you. Your asters are lovely, and such a nice size. My asters are all large, but so welcome at the end of the gardening season. I’m leaving them all to stand over the winter, maybe some critters can use the seeds. We voted weeks ago and now hope for an end to this destructive time.
Very nice, especially the way they soften the edging. BTW, what are the white flowers peaking out of the aster? Alyssum maybe?
Another beautiful plant for my “wish list”. My thoughts and good vibes are with you. Amelia
What a beautiful fall color! My asters have disappeared over the years, so this would be a good one to add back in. So glad you had the energy to write. I think of you and Judy often.
I think of you whenever I check my blog feed and hope you are doing well (or as well as can be expected). Thanks for the idea of replacing catmint with aromatic aster. I may try them in combination.
Good to hear from you Jason, hope you’re well. Lovely photos of these lovely asters. I grow the same species in my garden. Ours are just about done, but I like the foliage and the seed heads, so I’m okay with that. Take care!!
It is good to hear from you. I think of you every time I look at my asters. I think maybe I have an aromatic aster that planted itself on the side of my house – it looks more like yours than whatever it is the Art planted in my front yard that also has small intense blue flowers that bloom late. Hang in there and be well. We will get through all this somehow.
Hello Jason .. this is such a beautiful little aster .. I want it ! but I can’t always get what I want. However it is on my radar now so maybe I will be lucky.
I hope everything is going as well as possible for you .. keep safe and as healthy as possible !
Best Wishes !
A lovely, dainty aster. Asters are not common here, so I enjoyed seeing this one.
Best wishes to you and your family. A tough row to hoe, especially right now.
Intense anxiety, we are all feeling it now. Holding out hope. Emily Dickinson said it thus…
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
An excellent choice, Jason. Sending good wishes from the top side of the border.
I hope, you are well. It has been a tiring week to wait for the vote-count, but all came to a good end- congratulations to all of the US. Hope, this cheers you up a little. I had some Asters, too, this year. But I can’t remember, I ever planted it. All summer I considered the dark green something with nothing more than many dark knots among the leaves a weed. But following the old gardener’s rule to not rip out plants until you can tell what they are, I waited – and now, they are a big bush of purple aster blooms. I am happy to have them, altgough I still have no idea, where they came from.
Love the compactness and color of this aster. Thanks for sharing. What an exhausting time this must be for you with chemo and the election stress. We’re through the election, thank goodness, and you will get through the chemo. In the meantime, I hope you’ve made yourself a good nest inside near a window to be lazy, rest up, and watch your plants and the sky go about their November business. Sending thoughts your way Jason.
Goodness; I am so out of it now that I had not been following. Heck this is two weeks ago! I am sorry to be so preoccupied.
Just a note to hope you’re feeling OK. The asters are wonderful plants and it always cheers me to see them. I had not realised they are aromatic. Yours seem to be quite low growing compared to some, unless you are trimming them back to keep them neat.
Thinking about you, Judy, and your family and wanted to wish you well for thanksgiving in this horrible, terrible, pretty bad year!! Sending loving kindness your way.