Time for asters
Click for greater clarity.
At least once before I’ve asked what autumn would be without asters, and now I’m asking again. I believe what you’re seeing here is white heath aster, Symphyotrichum ericoides. The date was October 22nd and the location was McCallen Pass at E. Parmer Ln. on the prairie in northeast Austin.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
Gorgeous with the blue skies as the background
norasphotos4u
December 4, 2013 at 6:28 AM
It helps that I got down low and aimed upward at enough of an angle to have only clear sky in the background, and none of the buildings that I could see when I stood up.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 7:10 AM
I love asters when they come in spring and early summer! In The meadows in Michigan they can be everywhere! Great shots of them…really make me feel like I want a little bit of summer right now!
thomasgable
December 4, 2013 at 7:13 AM
Those are some precocious asters you’ve got up there, Thomas. Almost all the species I’m familiar with in central Texas are distinctly fall-blooming, and in fact among the last new wildflowers to put in an appearance before winter (well, such winter as we have here, anyhow).
If it’s summer you crave now up north, I’ll add that the high in Austin yesterday was 84°, and today’s high is predicted to be close to that; then some of your northern air is supposed to come our way and chill things down a lot.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Speaking of chill, these beauties remind me of days when I’d see early wet, heavy snow covering still green and blooming plants. We’re overrun with Aster subulatus just now, everywhere from ditches to lawns. They’re nice, but I surely would enjoy seeing some of these beauties.
shoreacres
December 4, 2013 at 8:06 AM
I seem to remember reading that Symphyotrichum subulatum (formerly Aster subulatus) is the most common aster in Texas, so your observation about seeing them abundantly falls right into line (and lines right up with fall). Given that the map at
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SYER
shows white heath aster in lots of places, including your neck of the woods (or coastal plain), you ought to see this species one of these days. It could be too late for this year, but that gives you one more thing to look forward to in 2014.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 8:36 AM
Some of the very last flowers we see as we walk the trails are tiny asters. They just don’t want to give up.
Jim in IA
December 4, 2013 at 9:31 AM
I’ve noticed that some of the tiny and often nondescript plants are real stalwarts. Maybe you notice asters because you’re interested in asteronomy.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 12:58 PM
What if stars were shaped like that? And, bright colors.
Jim in IA
December 4, 2013 at 1:13 PM
There’s quite a difference, isn’t there, between a real star and a conventional, stylized star—and yet we use the same word for both.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 2:47 PM
I believe this is the jewelbox cluster. The colors have been enhanced to point out their differences due to temperature.
Jim in IA
December 4, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Excellent low angle, Steve. You are obviously much more spry that I. I get down ok…it’s the getting up that’s tough. Beautiful blue sky background.
Steve Gingold
December 4, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Well, I’m not as limber as I was at half this age, but I get by. I wouldn’t have been able to do these asters justice if I hadn’t gotten down on the ground.
Steve Schwartzman
December 4, 2013 at 4:31 PM