Summer's Golden End

I always know when the end of summer is drawing near because a certain flower takes over our meadows. These are the goldenrods, a true-blue American flower. There are over 125 species of goldenrods, 90 of which reside in North America. In fact, our northeastern lands are home to over 50 species of the plant. Trying to identify them is next to impossible, so around here, we use the generic name goldenrod for each plant that we encounter.

Their generic latin name is Solidago whose root meaning is, "to make whole". This refers to the medicinal properties that the plant was thought to have. The plant actually has wonderful benefits for digestion and can be drank as a tea to calm the stomach. During the revolutionary war, tea was made from goldenrod and called "Liberty Tea". It was so tasty that plants were shipped to China for cultivation.

Goldenrod has a bad rap for causing seasonal allergies. It was thought that the pollen was carried on the wind, irritating sinuses everywhere. Now it is known that ragweed is the real culprit since goldenrod's pollen is transferred by bees and other pollinators, not the wind.

Goldenrod used to be our national flower. Songs and poems, like this one from the 19th century, were written about the flower's beauty:

Sing a song of Goldenrod!

The truest bit of gold

That ever gleams by woodland streams

Or on the wayside wold,

Till o'er and o'er, from shore to shore

The echoes sweet are rolled.

O Goldenrod! Dear Goldenrod!

We'll sing your praises ever.

Though but a weed

Your voice we'll heed,-

"Our Union none can sever."

So the next time you pass a goldenrod, take a good look at it and pay it your respects. It won't make you sneeze, but it might take your breath away.