This ‘n’ That

Just some outliers from shooting sessions that didn’t fit in with with the rest of the shots.

But before we get started I have a botanical question that hopefully someone can answer.  I planted four New England Aster plants last year in mid-Spring.  I got them by mail, they came in three inch pots, and they were so small I doubted they would do anything that year.  I planted them in various spots in my garden and they did just great.  They started growing after a few days and didn’t stop until late summer.  The stems were a bit sparse but grew three to four feet and nice blooms that lasted into late September.

This year the asters all came back, no problems, with lots of quick growth.  They are much taller now that they were this time last year – three feet plus.  The funny thing though is that one of them is in almost full bloom, two are starting to bloom, and the fourth is starting to get buds (I moved it to a different location a few weeks ago).

So here’ my question.  I’ve gone to a half dozen different websites and they all say that these plants start blooming in late summer (that’s what they did last year).  Nowhere can I find a reference to them blooming in late spring like mine.  Does anyone have any ideas why they would be blooming so early?  If you know why or have an idea why please let me know in the comments.  Thanks.

Now on to this post.  I don’t have much commentary (understatement) with these photos as I used up most of my word allotment with the question above.

 

Hoverfly on a dianthus.

 

Spiderwort

 

Don’t know what this is but I like the colors.  It reminds me a brooch or pin my great aunt used to wear.

 

Rudbeckia.

 

Another spiderwort.

 

I think this is a house sparrow.  A drop of water hanging on the lower beak.

 

Go ahead and judge me, but to be honest, if he bit into this and was instantly fried, I would not be that sad.

 

More rudbeckia.

 

Thank you for stopping by.

David

All photos (except for the rudbeckias, house sparrow, and squirrel) were taken with  Nikon D7100 and a Sigma 105mm macro lens.  For the others a Nikkor 80-400mm telephoto zoom was used,