| Walking the rail-trail in the Lily Lake area the other day, I couldn’t help notice how quickly the asters are taking over as the dominant wildflowers on the landscape. Already, some of the goldenrods – which still provide most of the colour – are beginning to fade. I was able to identify five species, although there were probably more. One of the best resources for sorting out the asters is Ontariowildflowers.com Knowing at least a few of the common species adds a great deal to any late summer or fall walk. |
 Heath Aster (numerous, very small flowers that are packed close together)  New England Aster (rich purple in colour)  Heart-leaved Aster (leaves at base are heart-shaped) |
|||
 Purple-stemmed Aster (stem is usually purple; disc in flower goes from yellow to purple) |
 Panicled Aster (long, lance-shaped leaves; 2 cm-wide white flowers; dead stem leaves very curly) |
