Mistaken Identity

One mention of the name Goldenrod and many people will immediately start telling you of their "hay-fever" attacks or how their allergies have been acting up lately. Little do these sometimes well-educated folks know that this idea is a total bunch of crock! A mistaken identity so to speak. It is not the gorgeous Goldenrod that is causing their problems but a look-alike plant, the Ragweed. Ragweed does indeed cause allergies to flare up. The itchy eyes, sneezing attacks and congestion are all caused by the pollen of the blooming Ragweed not the Goldenrod. To actually get enough pollen from these flowers to make you sneeze, you would literally have to bury your nose in a bunch of them! Goldenrod pollen is not designed to be wind pollinated. I have been told on many occasions that I need to pull out the Goldenrod plants that adorn my gardens and those that line the marsh edge near the pier. I love these plants! Their bright yellow spikes gleam in the afternoon sun and are the epitome of Fall.

Not many people know the benefits of Goldenrod or they would all be planting it in their gardens. Not only is it an incredible lure for bees and butterflies, it has many medicinal uses as well. It actually can be used to treat respiratory problems such as allergies, colds and the flu. (That is sort of ironic now isn't it?) It has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Can be useful in treating cystitis and nephritis and topically can be used to treat eczema. Wow! This is pretty amazing considering how the plant is usually portrayed! I think I will keep my Goldenrod!

Today, I had the opportunity to watch a beautiful swallowtail butterfly flit around the garden. It would go from the marigolds to the asclepias and then back to the marigolds. It was as if it could not make up its mind which it desired. Finally, it decided that neither were the preferred choice for dinner and went to the lantanas. The asclepias or butterfly weed was left to the monarch.