A field of bright goldenrod reaches for the August sun. These flowers are a vital late-season food source for pollinators in Northern Ontario.
The Buzz About Goldenrod in Northwestern Ontario
A familiar splash of yellow has begun to paint the roadsides and open fields across Northwestern Ontario. These vibrant, sun-kissed plumes belong to the goldenrod, a plant that truly captures the essence of late summer. Often misunderstood, this striking perennial is a common sight in the community recreation areas and natural spaces we explore, and its bright blossoms provide a welcome burst of colour as other flowers begin to fade.
While many people mistakenly blame goldenrod for their seasonal allergies, the true culprit is often ragweed, which blooms around the same time. Goldenrod’s pollen is too heavy and sticky to be carried by the wind. Instead, it relies on insects for pollination, making it a crucial food source for bees and butterflies that are busy stocking up for the cooler months ahead. Observing the goldenrod in our Northwestern Ontario Living Land Lab, we’ve noticed a constant buzz of activity, with countless pollinators visiting its nectar-rich florets.
Goldenrod isn’t just a friend to pollinators; it also has a history of practical uses. Traditionally, some Indigenous communities and early settlers used the plant for its medicinal properties. The leaves and flowers were often made into teas to treat various ailments. In fact, goldenrod was even used to create a yellow dye, and its sturdy stems were sometimes used in crafting. Its role in both the natural ecosystem and historical community life in places like Manitoba and Northern Ontario shows just how much more there is to this beautiful plant than meets the eye.
The late summer display of goldenrod marks a beautiful transition in our natural environment. As we’ve been documenting the plants and flowers of our region, goldenrod stands out as a symbol of abundance and resilience. Its cheerful presence reminds us to appreciate the smaller, everyday wonders around us—the vibrant colours, the hum of insects, and the subtle shifts that signal the changing of the seasons. It’s a key part of the landscape that enriches our local arts and community recreation efforts, proving nature is a masterpiece in itself.
This summer, artists and youth from across Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut are on a quest to capture some of the many plants and flowers that grow around our natural environments. Every day, we post a different plant or flower, mostly from our Northwestern Ontario living land lab. The program was seeded in 2022 with funding and support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse, and later by the Manitoba Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council. This year’s programming for plants and flowers builds on pilot programming supported by Manitoba Agriculture and the Canadian Sustainable Agricultural Partnership.
This year’s Northwestern Ontario Living Land Lab arts internship program was funded by the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts program and we thank them for their support.
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