In early October I attended the Yoder field trials of chrysanthemums and asters in Hightstown, New Jersey. Chrysanthemums we know as seasonal color, as transient as pumpkins for garden decoration. Asters are relatively new on the scene as container plants, familiar in the garden as Michaelmas daisies, and locally native as one of the field flowers that make autumn gloriously colorful. A smidgen of information on botany and design, and the real emphasis is on the plants themselves. Asters continue to gain in popularity as easily grown perennials.
Dahlias come in a rainbow of colors, and a puzzling complexity of flower form and petal shapes.
The author explains the fine points, backed up both by detailed drawings and crisp photographs. Cultural details are covered, from spring planting through summer maintenance and including winter storage. Propagation, hybridizing, growing for showing are also discussed. I visited Seattle in late September, visiting some superlative gardens where dahlias were colorful additions to perennial borders and shrub plantings. One important part of gardening is keeping track.