Hardy Asters {Michaelmas Daisies) 
HARDY asters are not exclusively fall flowering 
perennials, for, with the rockery as a coming fea- 
ture of American home grounds, the beautiful 
spring flowering Alpine asters are becoming quite 
popular. Of the Aster Alpine plants, Aster alpinus 
superbas, a valuable garden type, eclipses the original 
Aster alpinus. It bears its masses of large single 
Novae Anglac Varieties 
pale blue, yellow-centered flowers on single siems. 
about 12 inches high, and appears at its best dur- 
ing May and early June. Very handsome are 
the new varieties Aster alpinus nixe, producing star- 
shaped blossoms distinguished by long, narrow petals of 
the same color as the former, and Aster alpinus ruber, 
a claret shaded novelty. Being typical mountain plants, 
and as such rock garden inhaliitants, their usefulness 
for edging the mixed herbaceous borders should not be 
overlooked. The floral designer will find those asters 
a verj' acceptable material for certain lines of his work. 
The best of the springflowering class of asters for cut- 
ting are doubtless Aster subcaeruleus and .\.ster Fre- 
monti. Of stocky, robust growth they show a wonderful 
freedom in the produce of large, handsomely shaped 
flowers, borne on erect stems from 15 to 20 inches long. 
Aster subcaeruleus should be grown in masses and used 
freely in every garden. It is by far the best of the spring 
flowering kinds, bound to become very popular with 
garden and flower lovers. 
Of medium high summer and early fall asters, the 
bushy compact growth of the new Aster amellus varieties, 
requiring little or no support, is of great advantage. 
Aster eordifoUus 
Literally covered with their wealth of blossoms they 
prove an excellent material for very attractive mass 
eft'ects during August and the early part of September. 
The list of the tall growing Novae anglae and Novae 
Belgii classes is bewildering in length. Of those free 
flowering varieties which by color and size of blossoms 
prove of extraordinary value for massing are of the pink- 
A Field of Flozveriiig Miehaebnas Daisies. (Hardy Asters.) 
159 
