after the show

Like fall leaves, the purple asters give a big splash, but the color doesn't last for very long. After all, they don't have a lot of time to put out seeds before the cold weather comes. Fortunately, after the big show, comes an encore. Quickly after the blooms fade, sometimes even before the last of the purple daisies fade, the pappus forms attractive puffballs that catch the light. These help the seeds disperse (like dandelion seeds), but can make a mess as they stick to clothing when the gardener is trying to neaten up the garden.