Endangered flowers put on a show

Lots of flowers bloom in fall.

It’s just a small, pale blue flower, not remarkable compared to the deep purple daisies nearby.

Well not actually daisies, New York asters are the deep purple ones. The white flowers with yellow centers are wood asters.

No, these are different.

Sky blue aster is an endangered species, at least in New York. It grows in Whirlpool State Park, along the gorge south and west of the main parking lot and between the lot and the carcass of Robert Moses, horrible human being.

I thought about that tough, little, barely remarkable flower on Sunday as I walked a Japanese tour guest through the park.

They come here for a day – picked up in the morning at the Buffalo airport and dropped late afternoon for the flight back to LaGuardia or JFK.

They marvel at the Falls and love DiCamillo's pizza. Inevitably, they have two conclusions: 1) Cave of the Winds is better than Maid of the Mist 2) In Whirlpool State Park they look around and say "I love it here because it is so peaceful."

I walk Gord daily in that park and tell them it is our front yard. Other guests this summer asked "how are there so many state parks here. In Indiana we have to drive two hours to get to one." I just smile and feel lucky.