Still, There are Blossoms

Aromatic Asters

Prairie Color in Asters © 2012 Bo Mackison

“What is seen by the eye is transformed and colored by the vision of the mind.” ~ Robert Wade

These asters are my favorite of all the asters. Not delicate and petite, but rather “in your face” and frazzled, full of the spirit that they require as one of the last flowering prairie plants of the autumn. They can manage a bit of stress, too. They can survive a mild frost easy enough, though once a hard frost hits, the prairie fades from golden and russet to deeper shades of brown. The flowers’ pale, shrivel, and drop upon the prairie earth.

So when I walk in the prairie as the season turns (officially) from summer to autumn, I always check on how the spirited, aromatic asters are doing. I smile at the bits of color left in the prairie, those blossoms of bright purple.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. Walking in the prairie is a walk for the senses and a balm for the depleted soul.

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Lovely colors–purple against the yellows. I also like your unusual point of view, one I seldom try. Lovely photo and lovely Asters.

  2. Very nice.

  3. Love these old-fashioned,”New England” asters. That’s what my mom calls them anyway. Here, they always bloom in October and are always, foreverly covered in butterflies of all manner. Monarchs, Gulf Fritillaries, Sulphurs and more – even bees and preying mantis. Oh, how I miss them and how I love this image. Takes me back to my lake. Thanks, Bo. Beautiful image…

    • Bo Mackison says

      These asters are bushier and less well behaved than the New England Aster. The prairie has both, and several other varieties, too. Always a good thing, since by this time of the year, asters are one of the last flowers in bloom.

      • Bo Mackison says

        Preying mantis, hmmm? Always thought they were called “praying” mantises, always wondered why…:-)

  4. Wow, those are very pretty, and such a deep color!

  5. Very pretty, Bo. The asters here are doing well this year. I think they liked the drought and hot weather.

    • Bo Mackison says

      The early flowers suffered here, but we had rain in August, so the late seasonal flowers are in full bloom.

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