Description
A thick stand of goldenrod was growing in the damp ground beneath the aspens along Crystal Creek. Goldenrod’s genus name, Solidago, means to make whole, referring to the healing properties of the plant. Different species across the country have been used as medicines for “strengthening the brain,” and as an antidote for rattlesnake bite, a treatment for sores and cuts and for headaches. Thomas Edison spent time researching a couple of species to determine if they might be a commercial source for rubber. The late evening sun backlit the pale yellow flowers while I was walking back from a day on Specimen Ridge through the large stand of mature aspen.
