Wednesday, October 9, 2024

FAVORITE FLOWER PHOTO

 Stokes Aster - other names are Cornflower aster and Stokesia. Its botanical name is Stokesia laevis

I like the color of these asters. Apparently it is an easy flower to grow, a perennial and named after a botanist and physician called Jonathan Stokes. In 1754 Stokes was born in the City of Worcester, England, into a Quaker family who had a market garden and flower selling business. After schooling at James Fell's Quaker School in Worcester, Stokes joined his father in the nursery business. In late 1778, at the age of 24, he went to Edinburgh to study medicine, and his story goes on from there. You can read more at this link.  

Jonathan Stokes spent much of his career doing clinical studies on plants and was credited with cataloguing a number of species and developing successful medical treatments from some of the plants he studied. 

As for the flower itself, deer and rabbits don't like to eat it, but it is well-liked by many bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Gardeners like to add them to attract butterflies particularly and fortunately, it is not toxic to humans or pets.





38 comments:

  1. They are a beaut flower, Denise. Off to read what the links follow.
    Take care.

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    1. Thank you Margaret, I hope you enjoy :) You take care also.

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  2. I love them because they are blue :-))

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    1. Thanks Angie, it certainly is a beautiful color :)

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  3. They are pretty. Nice to know that they are not toxic to dogs and cats - so many plants are.

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  4. It's very pretty and I love the color.

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  5. I love the colour and the traditional name of Michaelmas daisies.

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    1. How wonderful about the name. Thank you for sharing that Janice :)

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    1. Nice to know. They certainly are a beautiful flower :)

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  7. I've never grown asters. Maybe Florida is too hot?

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  8. It seems to me that there was a business called Stokes Seeds?

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    1. How interesting and that would be wonderful if they were related :) Thanks Red, I'll have to look that up. That would be fascinating.

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  9. WOW something that the wabbits don't like. We need those in lieu of Hostas and Liriope
    Happy Wednesday
    Hugs Cecilia

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    1. I know, isn't that wonderful? Happy Wednesday to you too Cecilia, and sending hugs :)

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  10. The aster is so pretty, Denise, and my favorite color! This is a lovely photo of it. Thanks for sharing a little about it.

    ~Sheri

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    1. I agree Sheri, it is such a lovely color. You are very welcome and thank you :)

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  11. oooooh wow, could they be any more beautiful?? they are the PERFECT color!!! i see wild asters around here all the time!!

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    1. I just knew you would love that color Debbie :))) Nice you get to see them so often.

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  12. I'll have to see if Asters grow well here. They would be a nice addition. Happy Wednesday to you.

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    1. Thank you Ellen :) I hope they grow well in your area. Happy Wednesday to you also.

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  13. It's such a lovely colour aster.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan, I think so :) All the best to you too.

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  14. Es una linda flor. Aunque todas las flores tiene su encanto. Te mando un beso.

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    1. Muchas gracias :) Estoy de acuerdo, todas las flores son hermosas. Te mando un beso.

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  15. I love this flower. If I plant some after winter, we'll have even more butterflies. Pretty color.

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    1. Hello Annie :) thank you and that sounds like a great idea.

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  16. It is a very pretty blue Aster. Interesting to hear about the connections with Worcester as we live only a few miles away from there.

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    1. Thank you Beverley and how wonderful to learn of your connection with Worcester. My sister and her family used to live not too far away. They lived in two villages, several years in each, Bishampton and Naunton Beauchamp. I wonder if you know them?

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