Such A Cheer!

The brilliant yellow of Goldenrod is such a cheer for any day in late summer.  There are more that 50 species of Goldenrod in North America.  That’s a daunting number for someone who is a compulsive classifier.  One of these days I will tackle, figuring out which of the 50 species I have here on my mountain!

Hayfever’s Cause

Though many people think that Goldenrod is responsible for their sneezing, and worse, during the hayfever season, it is Ragweed’s pollen that is the nasty culprit.  Perhaps it is understandable.  Ragweed takes a backseat when it comes to being noticed.  There it sits along all those roadsides, being totally inconspicuous, in green flower — blending in with all the other greens, while the more beautiful Goldenrod stands out with it’s shimmering yellow.

Pollinators 

There are definitely benefits to having Ragweed around.  I see many pollinators enjoying the benefits of having it on the mountain as I hike.  The flower of the Ragweed is so minuscule that one would have to use a hand lens to enjoy its structure and beauty but it is there for the insects of the world to enjoy.  Meanwhile I will enjoy the striking yellow of the Goldenrod, one of the natives that I have in my garden, thanks to Mother Nature’s distribution system, also known as volunteering!