Lambent Coy Goldenrod

Latin lambēns, licking-lightly — present-participle of lambere (to lick). As a color modifier, lambent implies a saturated-and-soft-flickering quality, the bright color of candle-flame-and-firefly gentle-flickering light-emission against the surrounding darkness. Sits at the bright-and-soft end of the grid, parallel to glimmering and flickering in usage.

Latin quietus, still-and-quiet. As a color modifier, coy implies a shy-and-reserved-and-half-glanced quality, the visual register of Watteau-fête-galante-and-Rococo-coy hand-shy-and-reserved-and-half-glanced Watteau-fête-galante-and-Rococo-and-French-pastoral coyed-and-shy-and-reserved-and-half-glanced surfaces under Watteau-fête-galante-and-Rococo-and-French-pastoral garden-pavilion-and-fan-and-mask powdered-pastel-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to meek and charm in usage.

Solidago, the late-summer wildflower of North American meadows whose tall sprays of small yellow flowers signal the end of the growing season. The color refers to the flower head at full bloom: a warm, slightly muted yellow-orange with the matte finish of small clustered florets. Cooler than mustard, deeper than dandelion. The state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska, a pollinator magnet, and the original native dye for early American homespun.