Fields of Gold

I often get sidetracked when I go out on photo shoots, and yesterday was no exception.  While driving down MS Hwy. 27, from Vicksburg to Crystal Springs, Mississippi, I was delighted to see fields of gold bordering both sides of the road.    You can always count on Fall being just around the corner when goldenrod magically makes an appearance, seemingly overnight. I found a farm road to turn into and couldn't wait to capture this little patch of goldenrod in all its glory. And it was even more glorious close up ... I wasn't the only one who found it glorious. The bumblebees, honey bees, and "love bugs" were loving it. The contrast of the graceful golden stalks against the dark trees in the background is stunning. I took all the closeup pictures with my long lens, since I had on sandals and didn't think it wise to wade any further into the grass between me and the goldenrod.  It is truly awesome up close, and I hope to capture some closeups with my macro lens before it starts to fade.  Some fun facts about goldenrod: Goldenrod is, in some places, held as a sign of good luck or good fortune.   It is considered a weed by many in North America, but is prized as a garden plant in Europe, where British gardeners adopted goldenrod long before Americans did. Inventor Thomas Edison experimented with goldenrod to produce rubber, which it contains naturally. His experiments produced a 12-foot tall plant that yielded as much as 12 percent rubber. The tires on the Model T given to him by his friend Henry Ford were made from goldenrod. Goldenrod has been used for centuries in the treatment of kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and a variety of other medical conditions. People often mistake this beautiful plant as the main cause of hay fever in the Fall.  But it is falsely accused because it's ragweed that is the main culprit. As I mentioned at the beginning of this story, I was headed to the town of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, before I was sidetracked by the goldenrod.  Crystal Springs is a pretty little town in Copiah County, about an hour's drive from Vicksburg, and I spent a pleasant morning there just riding around and capturing "pictures" that caught my eye.  I hope you will join me next time to see some of them.