Little lilac asters, I think.
Though they look dainty, these small flowers survive in the shallow and poor soil of the glades in the Ozarks regions of Missouri and Arkansas where I took these photos.
Often they are hugging the rocky hillsides and ledges along the highway.
I like them, they are tough, appreciate dry conditions and show up in the fall after much of the color is gone from the trees. At a time when fewer and fewer blooms are around for pollinators, bees are always hovering.
I collected some seed and tossed it out in a gravely spot near the drive. Who knows if it will grow. It is the little weedy thing I wouldn’t notice until it blooms this fall.
Gail at clay and limestone, Wildflower Gardening In Middle Tennessee hosts Wildflower Wednesday.
To share your wildflowers, join in a Celebration of all Wildflowers on the Fourth Wednesday of Each Month.
I always learn a lot from Gail’s posts and she is kind enough to allow my humble submissions to join the party.