It looks like some sort of aster.
Karyn

It appears to be an aster, possibly A novi-belgii, maybe the variety Marie Ballard or similar. Commonly known over here as Michaelmas daisies. Since it is double flowered it is unlikely that it is a volunteer seedling as they tend to be single and rather weedy, more like the wild asters which were their ancestors. Frankly, I am surprised that someone purporting to be a master gardener is not familiar with these plants. What do you have to do to call yourself that? I'd also get a new landscape architect if that is the level of his/her plant knowledge!

I'd say Chickory
Daniella

It's an Aster novi-belgii as flora uk said. The leaves and buds are typical. Very pretty.

Search for pictures of your suggestions, it's more like a
New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis, Family: Aster (Asteraceae

Aster novi-belgii seems to have a solid center, a few pedals, and description says rough leaf edges. My plant has smooth leaves.

Chickory is to few petals, like I said, 1 stalk has 50+/- buds, on a thick stalky main stem.
Same with the some of the asters, plus many seem to have a different color center, this is the same color for all.

ps. don't get to personal or down on my friends. I asked the neighbor gardener about a month ago, so it wasn't developed much, and the LA, I had cut a short branch and bud, no flowers had developed. And I still have not found a good online picture of the plant, even with the suggestions.

Did You Know
Michaelmas means Michael's Mass. The flowers traditionally bloom on September 29th which is 'The Feast of Saint Michael'. Saint Michael was the warrior saint of all angels.

Sorry to go on, but this is definitely a Michaelmas daisy. Extremely common in British gardens, flowering as it does at a time when many plants are going over. The type has a solid centre but there are many hybrids including several other Ballard ladies: Helen, Patricia and Freda. Didn't mean to dis your acquaintances but this plant really is very common and not hard to recognise in the flesh, flowers or no flowers. To see some of the large variety of forms try this: http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/pix/m/seeds/7/7892.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:313908}}

Well it's bloomed some more and then I found a box from which I had purchased and planted some pereninals last year but do not recall anything coming up. On the box it shows it has 1 Aster Nova Belgii in it. Took a year, does't look like the picture as much as I would think, but I guess that does solve the mistery.

If you want to see some beautiful Michaelmas daisies check out this website. I have a large bed of these late blooming beauties.

A......

Here is a link that might be useful: Perennial Asters