Just an update - the tree is officially dead. Every leaf is brown to orange. The arborist told me it wasn't necessarily my fault the tree died, because it would take more than a dog pen over its roots to kill it. He suspects that it was stressed previously by construction that took place around its base prior to me buying the property. I think he was trying to make me feel better about the situation. I've gotten a good quote for removal, $1700 to take down and leave wood on premises, $2000 to take down and remove + $125 to grind out the stump. He is willing to take $900 to get rid of the tree, letting me make a payments on the balance up to 6 months. I haven't had tree work of this size done before, but I think this is a decent price. I'm looking for a replacement tree that I can put in the bare spot. Something that will be big enough to provide shade in about 5 years. I appreciate any suggestions.

Could be either a sun problem, a moisture problem, or a PH problem, or all three combined. How much sun does the sunny location get? There's a slight chance your aster may be getting a little too much sun, as this type of aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) prefers sun to partial shade. Many garden websites, nursery websites etc., will say to plant New England Aster in full sun. But in the wild, New England Aster grows in moist meadows, moist open woods, or on stream banks, indicating that it can take full sun, but that the soil needs to be kept moist. New England Aster also needs a well-drained soil, and will not do too well with a heavy clay soil that doesn't drain well. New England Aster also likes an acidic soil with a PH around 6.8. You may want to test the soil in the spot where you have it planted with one of those soil PH tester kits with the little test tubes to be sure the soil is acidic. If you have the aster planted close to any concrete foundation of a house or other structure, the soil may be too alkaline due to the concrete. If so, you may need to move the aster away from the structure's foundation to a more acidic PH area of the garden. Doesn't sound like powdery mildew, which can be a problem with this type of aster. Hope this helps...

Asters are a large family of plants and are often difficult to nail down the exact species -- especially because there can be so much variability within each species. The provided picture really is not clear enough on the details that one needs for a positive identification. However, my first "best guess" is Aster azureus. IronBelly Here is a link that might be useful: Aster azureus

Linda, I bought a "kit" to make one and it had the pattern in it.I already made it.....but figure it's cheaper to buy the beads and everything separate to make a few of them.The kits are 19.95 but I got mine on sale after Christmas. There is a pattern online for a smaller one,mine is 13"......here's the link to the smaller one. I don't have a scanner or I'd send you the pattern for the bigger one.But I could copy it at work and send it to you in snail mail if you want to give me your address.....let me know.... Here is a link that might be useful: tree