Flower of the month of September: Aster

Aster the "Star"of September

The Flower of the month is the Aster. Aster means “star” in Greek, and I was happily surprised during my research to find out that the Aster includes 600 species!! Asters are showy flowers, mostly found in gardens. The Aster is unique for its delicate purple color often associated with the core aspects of the Self. Purple is usually an expression of our spiritual level.
The Aster can also be found in a variety of other colors including blue and white.

The Aster is known for its well defined physical structure and strong integrative features. Because of this it is thought that the Aster has qualities of strength, immunity and integration. Depending on the exact species, Asters begin growing in the summer and continue growing through the fall.

For those of you who want to plant Asters:
In order to multiply and continue to grow well, Asters should be transplanted and divided at the room every other year. It is best to do this in early spring, keeping the root wet the day before and after dividing it. Doing this will rejuvenate the plant, help with size control and also give you more of them to add to the garden. Aster’s grow best in rich wet soil, and can be grown either in direct sunlight or in the shade.

Fun and interesting facts:
Legend has it that burning the Aster leaves will keep away snakes. In French tradition it is said that placing the flowers on the grave of a dead soldier is a tribute to his bravery.