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What's blooming in Bath, Highland
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
 | | Goldenrod adds swaths of color to roadsides and fields in late summer and early fall. Often maligned as the cause of fall hay fever, goldenrod is largely innocent. Another fall wildflower, Ragweed, is the number one cause of watery eyes and runny noses. (Recorder photo by Charles Garratt) |
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HIGHLANDS - Along almost any road or in any fallow field the bright yellow flowers of goldenrod splash the greens and browns of late summer and fall with vibrant color.
Goldenrods, Solidago gigantean, Solidago juncea and others, are often blamed for causing fall allergies. The large heads of yellow to golden flowers are so prominent that it is easy to assume they must contribute to the irritating pollen.
Actually, another plant with yellowish flowers on spikes, ragweed, is the real culprit. Ragweed is thought to cause 80- 90 percent of all fall hay fever. Ragweed spikes are more upright than goldenrod and the leaves have a ragged, deeply lobed appearance.
The different varieties of goldenrod have lanceolate leaves, toothed in some varieties. The flowers of goldenrod are bright and distinct. Ragweed flowers are mostly small and greenish to yellow in color. Both plants can grow to four-feet or taller.
Plants that flower in the fall have little time to mature and scatter seeds. On the other hand, they have the advantage of an entire growing season to store up energy and grow tall above the surrounding vegetation to take advantage of the shorter days.
The goldenrods and the fall asters begin the fall color season in the Highlands. As the first maples are turning, the bright yellows and blues of the wildflowers paint the under-story.
Nodding ladies' tresses and yellow ladies' tresses are in bloom. Grass-of-Parnassus is a distinct and uncommon flower of wetlands and seeps worth looking for this time of the year. Other little gems are scattered among the more showy goldenrods and asters.
Strangely enough, some of the fall flowers bloom later at the higher elevations. While out looking for tree color, be sure to glance down and check out the plants flowering closer to the ground. There are still plenty of wildflowers to be found until after a hard freeze.
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