Glowing Freya Goldenrod

The progressive participle of glow, to emit light — used as a color word since the medieval period for hues that read as if they were luminous from within. Glowing amber, glowing rose: the implication is moderate saturation combined with the optical impression of internal light. Sits in the bright-bucket alongside radiant.

Old Norse Freyja, goddess-of-love-and-Vanir. As a color modifier, freya implies a Vanir-goddess-and-feathered-cloak-and-Brísingamen quality, the visual register of Norse-Freya-and-Vanir-goddess hand-Vanir-goddess-and-feathered-cloak-and-Brísingamen Norse-Freya-and-Vanir-goddess-and-Brísingamen-amber-necklace freya-and-Vanir-goddess-and-feathered-cloak surfaces under Norse-Freya-and-Vanir-goddess-and-Brísingamen-amber-necklace Folkvang-and-Sessrúmnir-and-cat-drawn-chariot amber-necklace-light. Sits at the modifier-and-myth end of the grid, parallel to odin and vala 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.