In Praise of Asters!

 Hairy Asters (Symphyotrichum pilosum) volunteer lushly in the Creek Field.   They bloom late in the season, providing food for creatures who need nectar and pollen long after other flowers have gone to seed.

Here are some of the butterflies and moths that came to Hairy Asters at the end of 2020:

Butterflies and moths aren't the only pollinators!  Here are some of the other important visitors to Hairy Asters:

Finally there are those who come to dine on the diners--the predators:

Hairy Asters weren't in our seed mix.  They are total volunteers!   Yet nothing could be more important to the food web than Hairy Asters.