Michael IT-365: Michaelmas Day September 29th

The 29th of September marks the end of the harvest, thus Michaelmas had special significance for agricultural societies in northern latitudes. Fortunately, the rich heritage of customs associated with St Michael and All Angels has not been entirely lost.
The one Michaelmas custom that survives to this day is that you should not eat blackberries after the 29th of September. There is a very good reason for this custom, namely that by this time of year blackberries are tasteless and watery.
Michaelmas marks the end of the fishing season.
Michaelmas was traditionally time when labourers and servants were hired. As the name suggests, maids would carry mops, but other trades carried the tools of their trades. Thus the squires or the lord's of the manor could tell what skills the prospective employees had, for example, a Shepherd his crook, and a gardener a rake.
The Michaelmas daisy is like a big mauve sister to the common little white daisy. Notice how both these daisies have the typical composite head. Botanically, the Michaelmas daisies belong to the genus Aster; where as the common daisy is Bellis perennis.
Incidentally, every cultivated plant grows wild somewhere, and every weed is welcome some place!
Plants tie into Michaelmas in that the daisy is the flower that represents this day. Asters, or michaelmas daisies, are pernial flowers. You will find garden asters in many sizes and colors. Flowers usually bloom in late summer or fall in clusters, with each blossom from half an inch to several inches wide, on stems six inches to several feet tall. Ray petals arewhite, blue, deep purple, orpink, and central disks are golden. Many asters are North American natives and grow in wayside places with no care at all.