One of the true harbingers of fall, Aster lateriflorus 'Horizontalis' , the calico aster, froths over nearby plants. It's a subtle plant, begging for close inspection. The foliage has a purple cast, as do young stems who become stiff, wiry and black with age. Nectar and pollen gatherers love this plant. From a distance, you might think the flowers are pink, but they really aren't.
Light wine colored centers seem to cast a rosy reflection on the soft white petals.
They're so tiny, you really have to look closely to see this. Each head contains hundreds of tiny seeds, each connected to a bit of dandelion fluff that will carry it with the wind. Judging from the number of seedlings I pull in spring, germination must be fairly high for these seeds. As summer wanes, the massive flower heads of Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' exchange their pure white for palest green. The white period is a somewhat brief interlude between periods of pale green as flowers unfold and as they pass on to tan and brown.