national flower

i follow a local naturalist names larry weber. he used to teach at the university of minnesota in duluth. his favorite flower, by a long margin, is goldenrod. he’s so enamored with it, that he feels it should be the national flower. he calls goldenrod, asters, and sunflowers the Flowers of Fall. we have eight kinds of goldenrod in minnesota–5 species grow in open fields, two wetland species, and one woodland species.  i love goldenrod, as much for it’s winter stems with their delightful galls, as for its ubiquitous golden abundance in fall. but national flower? that’s going a bit far perhaps. do you know what the american national flower is?  google it. i just did. you won’t be surprised.

bouquet of golden september wildflowers