The Nose Knows

Can you feel it? Autumn is in the air. More butterflies and caterpillars are appearing. Birds are finishing up family chores. The two Mississippi Kite adults are soaring overhead with two smaller versions of themselves in pursuit. The young turkeys are nearly as large as their mother and will soon go their separate ways. The very alive, vociferous mockingbird fledgling I picked up from the center of the road was placed in grass. Daddy flew overhead watching and chattering. The male mockingbird cares for the post-nest baby mockers. Often young fledglings wind up on the ground as they learn to fly. Mastery of flight takes about two weeks.

The sunflower, Gaura, thistle, aster, goldenrod, sneezeweed and ragweed are beginning to bloom. The native wildflowers herald the coming of cooler weather (hopefully) and shortening hours of daylight. The timing of their blossoms coincides with insect and bird migrations as well as wildlife winter preparations.

Goldenrods wave from roadsides, pastures and home landscapes. As usual, they bloom the same time as ragweed, a notorious irritating pollen producer. Miniscule flowers of the ragweed resemble upside-down pale-yellow teacups. Their wind-dispersed lightweight pollen can actually travel upward two miles or 400 miles away. The sale of tissues escalates this time of year. Zyrtec’s article on the ‘Reality of Ragweed Allergy’ has a composite picture of ragweed: ragweed nearly in bloom on the left, and their idea of blooming ragweed on the right. They’re half right. True ragweed nearing pollination stage is on the left, but the blooming side is goldenrod. When I googled ragweed, fourteen images appeared. Six were true ragweed. The remaining eight were goldenrods. Talk about an identity crisis.

Six species of ragweed grow in Oklahoma ranging in height from 2 to 15 feet depending on the species. All are in the genus Ambrosia, Greek for “food or drink of immortality. No one knows why it is called Ambrosia, but the ubiquitous eternal ragweed grows in every state but Alaska. It has even found its way to Hawaii. This annual, with a few perennial species tossed in, produces slender leafy stems that support green candles containing countless elusive male flowers full of pollen. Hidden female flowers ready and receptive are waiting in leaf axils just below the candles on the same plant. Want more ragweed? Propagation is through seed and rhizomes.

Don’t malign the ragweed just yet. Eastern cottontails and grasshoppers eat the leaves of ragweed. Quail, finches, doves and woodpeckers dine on the seeds. Crushed leaves soothe rashes, calms nausea and reduces fever. Do you grow veggies susceptible to leafminer damage (peppers, greens, trees or large-leaved ornamentals)? Leafminer larvae of several insects eat paths between the layers of leaves, leaving interesting patterns. Leafminers are attracted to ragweed. Use ragweed as bait until it’s about to bloom, then deal with it.

Here’s a cheery thought. As the climate warms, ragweed will continue to increase.

The 25 species of Oklahoma goldenrods (genus Solidago) can be less than a foot tall to six feet in the sky. Their European cousins stop at two feet! Forest edges, marshes, and dry prairies all have their goldenrods. The tough but slender, leggy plants in late summer become topped by fuzzy spikes or feathery plumes of densely-packet bright yellow flowers. Goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky. The flowers must be pollinated by insects, the reason they become so important this time of year. Insects depend on goldenrod for nourishment. Birds such as goldfinches, chickadees, wrens, and cardinals, eat insects. Offensive tasting Monarchs depend on goldenrod nectar to help them beef up as they travel to Mexico.

The perennial goldenrod spreads by seed and rhizomes, as does ragweed. Some varieties of goldenrod can become a handful if not properly maintained. The tall goldenrods I transplanted from the Butterfly Garden at the OSU Extension Center have formed a small forest leading to the cellar. Unlike the shorter goldenrods in front of my house, these are nearly as tall as I am, so I see eye-to-flower. If I look closely, I might spy a goldenrod crab spider, a spider that can change color to blend in with flowers or leaves. The small yellowish spiders hang out in the rods waiting to ambush delicious insects. After mating, the female will lay an egg sack which she guards until it hatches. Good spiders to have around the blooms.

The genus name Solidago means to “make whole” referring to its healing properties. Goldenrod is used as a diuretic to improve urinary track conditions, reduce inflammation, ease arthritis, counter hay fever and asthma. Many native plants have beneficial properties, but approach and use with care as with all medications. Read, study, and properly identify the plant.

So you see, both the ragweed and goldenrod can be your friend, depending. Ragweed and nettle pollen are now in the high categories. Wear your mask!