"FIA" --- too funny, but a great term. We should use it often!
About companions to the new england asters--I planted white eupatorium rugosum (I think it was this one http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/15213/ ) and they bloomed together with the asters and made a nice combination. The butterflies are supposed to like it too. I also had the golden rods blooming and some of the tall late sword-leafed sunflower for the yellow and it looked rather nice for this late in the year. I was surprised to have so much October bloom here....
About 'FIA' on these, can't really say because these flowers are out of sight of my windows and also a bit in the shade, so not really optimum for butterfly use.
oh, and a big white iris rebloomed too which looked a little strange with the autumn flowers, but kind of fun! (No butterfly interest in it, though!)
Butterfly magnet
tab., that sounds so pretty. I am planning my garden and I know I will have some fall blooming asters (maybe I said that already?). I will make note of the others you mentioned above for my research.
I'm so glad we got to the bottom of FIA before I read this post. I would have been sitting here scratching my head and coming up with my own dumb definition.
I like your style Jmorth!
Jack is definitely a keeper!!
No penn I was the one who stepped in "it" this time LOL!
debnes
Thanks all.