a week or so ago, i first noticed the goldenrod (Solidago spp.) has begun blooming.  traditionally, this is a sign that autumn weather is iminent; first-frost within 6 or so weeks.  year before last, it was nearly ten weeks after the goldenrod bloomed that first-frost came.  i wonder if global-warming had anything to do with this bit of folk-wisdom becoming just folk-lore....i do look forward to a crispness in the air.  although i'm very well-churched, i'm still sufficiently pagan to enjoy the deliciousness of crisp night-air on warm skin....i've a very fond memory of dancing naked around a bonfire with some Radical Faeries....they were celebrating Samhain...i was just celebrating running around a bonfire nekkid with some other nekkid mens.  unfortunately, lots of folks blame the goldenrod for their autumnal allergy problems....the pollen of goldenrod is heavy and sticks to itself--it has spines for this---the pollen is not well wind-dispersed and insects are the primary pollinators for the plant.  the pollen that raises so much sinus-hell is from ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) which bloom at the same time as goldenrod.  it used to be that every stand of goldenrod thundered with the heavy drone of honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter-bees.  now, the stands of goldenrod are fairly quiet......i watched a single bumblebee with her saddle-bags bursting with the gold pollen....i wonder if she wondered where the army of her sisters was.....if bacteria can count their number in a colony, i would be surprised that bees could not do it.  bees are often symbolic of resurrection in art; hopefully, the symbolism won't be empty and we'll be thick with them again.....and soon.