Be Like Cliff Aster

Photo by Björn S... on Flickr

Malacothrix saxatilis
 
Hiking around Southern California this time of year can be a bit of a bummer. It’s finally cooled off enough to go back outside (maybe), and everything is brown. All the wildflowers are long gone.

And then, growing out of the driest, rockiest soil, is a little white flower. The Cliff Aster is one hardy plant. It’s not much to look at, being tall and spindly, but it is one of the only flowers that will still bloom in the late summer through winter. Every time I see one, I think I need to be more like Cliff Aster, thriving in even the harshest conditions.

Some Cliff Aster facts: they are endemic to California and are not found above 6,000 ft. They are members of the sunflower family and provide a nectar oasis for pollinators during the dry season. 

They may not be the flashiest wildflower, but they are this time of year. Their white petals, yellow center, and purplish tint on their underside always remind me that the earth is still alive even when everything appears brown and dead. It is a tiny flower of hope.

To sum up, Cliff Asters are resilient and inspire hope. I want to be more like Cliff Aster.
 

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