When you see Goldenrod start to bloom, you know that cooler weather is on its way. But some people also think it is responsible for upsetting their allergies. Iain clears up the confusion.
I'm Iain MacLeod from the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, and this is Something Wild.
Well, once again time has flown by and summer is almost over. The cricket chorus has reached its peak, and many swallows and hummingbirds have already headed south. And goldenrod is blooming - another sure sign that cooler weather is on its way.
And speaking of goldenrod, I have the opportunity to right a wrong here. Goldenrod is not what causes your hay fever. That's ragweed, a nondescript flower that also blooms now.
Ragweed spreads its pollen through the air, not by insects, so ragweed pollen is light and flies everywhere- including up your nose.
Goldenrod pollen, on the other hand, is so heavy it can't fly. You would have to stick your nose into a flower before you'd get enough pollen to sneeze- not that I'd recommend it!
Goldenrod has noticeable golden-yellow flowers, in order to attract pollinating insects. And insects come to goldenrod flowers in droves. They come to the flowers to feed on the nectar, and pick up the sticky, heavy pollen while they're visiting.
Bees like it; so do moths, butterflies, beetles and wasps. Literally dozens of kinds of insects can be found on these plants.
And, of course, goldenrod is beautiful. Those cascading spikes of yellow are really hundreds of little flowers. And although it is unappreciated here, gardeners in Europe love the bright yellow flowers that bloom so late.
So: goldenrod doesn't cause allergies, it helps insects, and it adds a bright spot of color during this otherwise quiet time. What more can we ask?
If you have a natural history question that you would like answered on Something Wild, e-mail us at somethingwild@nhpr.org. Something Wild is a joint production of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, NHPR and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. For Something Wild, I'm Iain MacLeod.
