Aster

Thrives in full sun or partial shade. Flowers in late summer or early fall. Perennial plant that's hardy around -30F. Blue, white, purple or pink flowers. Attracts butterflies. Aster came from the latin name for star. One to five feet tall, one to four feet wide. Water daily, every three to four years divide the mature clumps,  this is the same procedure for propagating, which the temperature needs to be around 70 F. Another way is to sow seeds into the ground after last threat of frost has passed. Takes around 15 to 30 days to germinate. To create a bushier plant, pinch tops back one time between 6 to 8 inches during the summer. This also helps to prolong blooms. Proper spacing is 4 to 6 inches for miniatures and 1 to 2 feet for bigger varities. Zones 3-9. It's helpful to apply mulch to protect the roots.

Landscapes, Nature, Plants Photos

http://my.nature.org/photography/, go to this website if you enjoy taking digital pictures of natural landscape, natural habitat, plants, water and animals. To enter the contest, you must be at least 18 years or older. You can send your digital pictures manually, one at a time directly to them or to their Conservancy's Flickr sharing community group. The beauty of landscape and plants throughout the world, the beauty of the fields, mountains, landscapes, waters and the clouds that roam over, creating beautiful sunsets and sunrises. To me in the trouble times we live in now and the sorrow, i appreciate and enjoy seeing these pictures. I think it's good to have an inspiring hobby to lift your spirits and to give thanks to the one that created this land, which i don't do enough of. Anyways i hope everyone is doing great and here's a few member photos that were recently posted.

Mums at Walmart

Water daily or until soil is moist. The plants will be harmed if soil drys out. 6 - 8 hours of sunlight. Mums need to be planted in well drained soil with compost. Fertilize once per month, add organic compost when planting. Plant in the ground no later than spring and don't pinch off spent blooms after july. Reason being, the plant needs to focus it's energy on the roots instead of blooming. This is needed to survive the winter, also you can insulate by applying mulch or evergreen branches around the plants. Spacing of  18 to 24 inches is needed for the taller varities and 12 inches for the cushion type. Fertilizer of 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 is good once a month, discontinue after buds have formed. Planting zones are 3-9 . The variety of colors are white, yellow, bronze, red, burgundy, pink, lavender and purple.