"Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly" ("Come Together," The Beatles) ... the Beatles provided the perfect background tune for seed collecting at Goose Pond on Thursday, October 10.

Seed collectors, *photo by Graham Steinhauer/SoWBA*

Stiff goldenrod was one of the plant seeds we collected. Collecting goldenrods occasions a goldenrod identification seminar that Graham and Emma conduct for the volunteers — the many species of goldenrod look similar and one species is on the “avoid” list. We certainly want to collect whatever the desired species is but we also have to avoid Canada goldenrod. This perfectly lovely native plant is the prairie example for having too much of a good thing. Highly aggressive, Canada goldenrod can choke out many other plants and reduce the diversity a healthy prairie should have. I just fished a stream where Canada goldenrod dominates the streambank and the field through which I walked. Very dense, very tall, and very tiresome. As SoWBA establishes new prairies we can't be sowing Canada goldenrod by accident.

One of the distinguishing traits of stiff goldenrod is the flat-topped shape of the seedhead. When viewed in contrast with the other goldenrods that shape is readily recognizable. Just hum Come Together as you collect stiff goldenrod and you'll be fine.

We collected two barrels and, I'm willing to bet, without a speck of Canada goldenrod.

Stiff goldenrod seedheads drying on the Goose Pond barn floor, *photo by Emma Raasch/SoWBA*

The other species we collected seeds from has a most unusual appearance in bloom. Rattlesnake master don't seem to have flowers but small, dense, bright green balls. Those are made up of hundreds of tiny flowers. All sorts of pollinators love this species, making it a must have on a prairie.

Rattlesnake master in bloom, *photo by Emma Raasch/SoWBA*

A prairie full of rattlesnake master in bloom, *photo by Emma Raasch/SoWBA*

"How did that plant get its name?" is the most common question when we're introduced to rattlesnake master. The common answer is that Native Americans used it as an antidote for rattlesnake venom. Although they used it for other medicinal purposes, not for that. Cayla, one of Goose Pond's excellent professional seed collectors, had heard a better explanation. The tough, dry seed heads and stems would catch in pioneers' wagon wheels and sound like the snakes' rattles. Pick the one you like but enjoy the plant and know that a myriad of bees, wasps, flies, and other pollinators join you. With four barrels ready for cleaning and then sowing rattlesnake master will be part of our new prairies.

Seed collecting has only a couple of weeks to go. Goldenrods and asters will head the list but Graham and Emma have another 30 or so plants in mind. They'll welcome your help.

Fall seems to have arrived as of this weekend. A brisk fall morning on a healthy prairie is good for just about anyone's health.

Take care,

Topf Wells, advocacy committee