Surprise plant of the year...

This has to be the surprise plant of the year. Aster odoratum 'October Skies' doesn't look like much all year. It has sort of a lime-green color, small leaves, and it gives off a clove-type odor. Then, at the end of September it lights up a firework storm of 1" purple flowers. It is slightly shorter than New England Aster, but isn't self-supportive, so it looks like a small bush of color. Friends have told me that early season cutback can keep it as a bushy, low to the ground perennial. A good plant for color, prolifferation, drought tollerance, and surprise.

Composting takeout

Yes, there are alternatives to the styrofoam containers for takeout. They haven't made it directly to the consumer yet, but some of the great restaurants in town are using Ecosteward to deliver these compostable containers. They are either from recycled materials, by-products (burgasse), or from a "new" kind of plastic that does not come from oil. It all decomposes in under 90 days. I'll put them to the test and let you know how it goes.

Plant Winners

Some plants are real winners while others have not performed well in another year of infrequent rain. Here are some of the winners that have impressed me and why:

Bottlebrush grass: a 3' grass that grows well in the shade, reproduces from seed very easily and plays well with others.

Celandine Poppy: again, does well in the shade and a good reproducer.

Swamp Mikweed: although it gets 3' or taller, it really attracts insects, provides a great pink color, and reproduces well. It does like regular amounts of moisture though.

The Tooty List:

Irises: not as successful for me, hard time holding their ground.

Black eyed susan: very good plant. Too good in fact. Plant sparingly.

Butterflyweed: really hasn't proliferated and has an awkward form.