You may (or may not) remember that one of the reasons why I built my little stonewall this spring was to visually separate our Goldenrod Meadow from the rest of our native habitat.
When I built the wall in June, the goldenrod was early in its yearly growth, and still in its bright spring green.
Well, I’m happy to report that we ended up getting a nice long bloom out of it — starting out as just a few scattered plants flocked in clusters of bright yellow blossoms, and ultimately culminating in an impressively vibrant display, buzzing with all kinds of pollinators ✨
the meadow was especially beautiful in the filtered morning sun
One of the things I love about goldenrod, is that it starts over every year, growing straight up from the ground. So in the springtime this area is pretty clear (aside from a few strong, dried stems that made it through the winter), and by the end of summer the flower stalks are so high that you could almost disappear into them (this year we had a few that reached at least 6 feet in height).
There are over 100 species of goldenrod native to North America, and it’s a fantastic plant to have around; we’re so happy that we have so much of it growing (and thriving) on our property.
It’s a plant that can happily grow in poor, sandy, or clayey soils, and doesn’t cause seasonal allergies!
Goldenrod is also a host plant for over 100 butterfly and moth species, as well as around 50 other insect species.
the Goldenrod Meadow in September vs. the Goldenrod Meadow in late October
A lot of people would think that this plant has lost its beauty and turned back into a common weed once the blooms have turned into dully-colored seeds, and the leaves have turned crinkly and brown.
But those people have obviously not gazed upon a meadow of glowing goldenrod when the sun shines through the millions of fluffy heads.
You can catch the view of the glowing meadow in the late afternoon when you walk back on the boardwalk; it’s a sight to behold, especially with the wild highbush blueberry (also a wonderful native!) glowing red behind it ✨
