Gold Rush!

One of my favorite things about living in Ohio is how rapidly the seasons seem to shift.  All of the sudden the cool nights and pleasant days of autumn feel so close. One surefire sign of the changing seasons are fields that ignite into golden worlds seemingly overnight.   We have the aptly named goldenrod (Solidago) to thank for this rush of color.  Goldenrod is a perennial wildflower that sometimes gets a bad reputation.  Because goldenrod and ragweed bloom at the same time, people confuse to which they are more allergic. Goldenrod has heavy pollen and is only pollinated by insects, whereas ragweed is pollinated by wind. Ragweed is a much stronger trigger to seasonal allergies because it is in the air.

I love the delicate blooms, especially when they are still a little green like this.

This is a field right on Taggart Road that photographs like an oil painting with that soft base of gold!

I also caught this photograph--yes, autumn is definitely on its' way! "The Birds", anyone?!

Stephen Jones
Delaware County Master Gardener