Our early mornings are showing a little frost now. It’s wild aster and goldenrod time, the lifelines to many pollenating insects during New England falls. Researchers have found that asters and goldenrod support more species of butterflies and moths than any other wildflower and that deer usually leave them alone.
Here, we see one of our native Wild Blue Asters, also commonly called the Frost Flower. It’s more specifically known as the Large-Leaved Wood Aster (Eurybia macrophylla), we think. These asters are providing nectar and color along our roadsides, trails, and other borders.
Above, we see one of our native goldenrods, Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) we think. It and other goldenrods are providing nectar and bright color in our fading fields. (Brooklin, Maine)