This image is almost a year old, but I justed wanted to announce...

The asters are blooming.

Not that that is a good thing. The blossoms in that photo were up in the wilderness, where wild flowers are great, but the asters blooming as of this week are in our front flower bed. And the lawn. And the stone walkway. And anywhere else they can sneak in.

The originals invaded our property when I brought home a scarlet Gilia plant that I dug up, not too far from where that photo was taken.

The Gilia only lasted a couple years. But the asters thrived. And have taken over. They choked out the strawberry plants long ago, and most of the Lilies of the Valley. Now they're working on the wild flag. Even the larkspur is having a hard time staying above them.

So, every other day or so, I stop by en route to or from the post office and decapitate all the little breeding asters I can find.

By the roots, if I can get 'em.