Autumn equinox

 When we moved to Georgia in the autumn of 2022, the Wise Woman developed a mysterious cough. It recurred in autumn 2023 and again a few weeks ago.

The Wise Woman and her physician have been discussing the matter. I have not been consulted.

But on my own initiative, I’ve been digging up the common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisifolia, goldenrods, genus Solidago, around the house.

I don’t think that will help much — maybe a little.

I spent 67 years in Texas, where people said everything was bigger, including the stands of goldenrod.

It just ain’t so. I’ve just thought I’d seen goldenrods before we moved to Georgia.

Goldenrods and ragweed are among the commoners, plants that you see so often you tend to overlook them. Many of the plants blooming now are commoners. Here are a few:

• American burnweed, Erechtites hieraciifolius, is a towering plant, maybe 10 feet, with frilly, white flowerheads. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but white flowers I saw near Panola Mountain had a feint pink tint.

• White-panicle aster, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, is a perennial, and you can see thickets of them along the banks of ponds. 

• Texas aster or Drummond’s aster, Symphyotrichum drummondii, is another perennial. This one has purple flowers with gold centers.

• Poorjoe, Hexasepalum teres, has blade leaves and small purple flowers with four petals. Some people call it rough buttonwood.

• Arrowhead sida, Sida rhombifolia, a small plant with woody stems and yellow flowers that look like pentagons. The University of Georgia says this plant is invasive. Medical researchers are studying its high concentrations of anti-inflammatory compounds. I don’t know what to think.