THE FLOWERS 



growing among the Golden-rod, some with 

 flowers of rosy violet, large as those of the 

 Daisy, and produced in such profusion as to 

 entirely cover the plant, some with flowers of 

 the palest, softest blue, with a heart of gold, 

 and others which seem a reflection of the skies 

 of Indian-Summer time. The earlier sorts, 

 which begin to bloom in July, are almost white, 

 and so unlike the later flowers in most respects 

 that we hardly think of them as Asters. The 

 late Aster is a most charming flower, and when 

 found in close proximity to the Golden-rod, 

 as it almost always is, it intensifies the brilliant 

 colors of that flower by strong contrast. 

 There is a sort of camaraderie between the two 

 which is suggestive of steadfast, old-time 

 friendship, and I often think of them as two 

 old floral tramps which have weathered many 

 a storm together, and whom it would be unkind 

 to separate. Apart, they would pine for the 

 old companionship, and life would not be what 

 it was before they came to the parting of the 

 ways. Let them live and get all the good they 

 can out of life together. Some varieties of 

 Aster, especially that catalogued by Gray as 

 Nova Anglae, are easily domesticated. Under 

 cultivation they become most attractive late- 



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