Cynthia, I'm confused. Are we talking asters, or are we talking mums...? I think we're mixing them up. I had asters last year which were pitiously ugly all summer long, a kind of grey-green nondesctript tall floppy foliage. I was advised to wait and be patient -- and by golly, they did bloom in October! They were a magnificent purple and lush beyond belief! But I ripped them all out, because they had been so awful earlier.... OTOH, there are plenty of reds available in mums. Don't remember a red aster... pink, yes. Would very much like to see one! Penny, NY zone 6 ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]