Herb of the Month: Goldenrod
Goldenrod is blooming in my yard, bringing a bright splash of yellow to this turning season. There’s still plenty of green around it, but those flowers feel like a little wave from autumn before summer has quite finished.
This month, I wanted to give goldenrod a little space of its own. It’s easy to walk past a plant we see everywhere. Sometimes taking a closer look is all it takes to begin a different relationship with what’s growing around us.
Those sprays of yellow are made up of many tiny flowers. They offer nectar to bees and other visiting insects. Stand near a flowering patch for a few quiet minutes and see who shows up. There may be a whole little community moving through those blooms.
Goldenrod also gets blamed for a lot of autumn sneezing. It blooms around the same time as ragweed, but the two carry their pollen differently. Goldenrod’s heavier pollen travels mainly with insects. Ragweed releases light pollen into the air, where the wind carries it.
So that very noticeable yellow flower isn’t usually the one responsible for the seasonal sneezes. If you’d like to look more closely at the differences, I’ve included a helpful plant guide below.
For now, here’s a small invitation: step outside and notice one plant near you. Look at its shape, its color, and what’s visiting it. You don’t have to turn the moment into a project. Just give yourself a little time to be there.
That feels like a lovely way to meet September ~ with curiosity, a slower breath, and room to notice what’s already here.
Moonlight & Blessings,
Kimmie
Comments