Old King George

The perennial Asters, which include the Michaelmas Daisies, are invaluable for late summer/autumn colour. Their blooms in shades of white, pink, purple, and lavender provide exquisite contrast in the garden against the range of russet colours that dominate at this time of year. Equally happy in sun or light shade the plants come in a large choice of heights, and the often moaned about problem of mildew can be kept at bay by ensuring the plants 'never' dry out.

Introduced from America in the 17th century Michaelmas Daisies are a firm, if not essential, cottage garden plant with an interesting history. Those from New England took the name Novae-Angliae, whilst those from New York, then known as New Amsterdam, are referred to as Novi-Belgii.

Michaelmas (St Michaels Mass) is the autumn Christian feast. The Gregorian calendar introduced in Europe in 1582 but only adopted in Britain in 1752 through fears of it being a papist plot, took 10 days out of the year, before then the asters did actually flower at Michaelmas.

They are also called Frostflower or Starwort, and today's image is one of my very favourites which is unfortunately, (for a republican) called 'King George' and is of the species 'amellus' though originally introduced in 1914 as King George V, it is nowadays only referred to as King George, who I am sure was a very nice man. My problem is with the institution not the people......politics aside, it is a delightful flower to have in your garden.