Aster angst

I've spent many hours during the last couple of weeks trying to identify a lovely aster growing in the courtyard. At first I decided it was Plains Fleabane (Erigeron tracyi), then Big Bend Woodyaster (Xylorhiza wrightii), and now I've decided it's neither. I'm thinking some kind of Symphyotrichum. I posted it to a Facebook plant group so will update this post when I find out what they decide. Here is a photo of it (left) beside Fleabane (right).

Here is a photo of it's basal leaves.

My sister sent me a photo of a chapel in West Texas that I had never heard of. You'll need to click on this image if you want to read about it. I'm always surprised when I learn of an historic building in the Big Bend area that I hadn't known about.

And here's my son working in Austin today putting up a billboard.

And a couple of white flower species blooming at the oasis today. I know they're common ones, but I forgot their names. I'll look them up and add them later.

Wedge-leaf Tomostima (Tomostima cuneifolia)

Some kind of phacelia in the Borage Family

The ground is carpeted with blooms-to-be, and verbena is everywhere. It's gonna get good, and oh so overwhelming.

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Jan 26 update: That first flower still hasn't been ID'd but my sister took a specimen to Dr. Powell so we'll eventually get it nailed down. The only suggestion I got from Facebook so far is that maybe it's Trans-Pecos Astranthium (Astranthium robustum).