Searing Rime Goldenrod

Old English sēarian, to wither — present-participle of sear. As a color modifier, searing implies a saturated-and-burning-touch-hot quality, the bright color of cast-iron-griddle high-heat surface-emission. Sits at the bright-and-warm end of the grid, parallel to scorching and blazing in usage.

Old English hrīm, hoar-frost-on-twigs. As a color modifier, rime implies a feathered-frost-and-fog-deposited quality, the visual register of Scottish-Highland-and-Cairngorm-rime hand-feathered-frost-and-fog-deposited Scottish-Highland-and-Cairngorm-rime-and-Pennine-cap rime-and-feathered-frost-and-fog-deposited surfaces under Scottish-Highland-and-Cairngorm-rime-and-Pennine-cap Cairngorm-Highlands-and-Scottish-Munro-and-Pennine-cap freezing-fog-light. Sits at the modifier-and-weather end of the grid, parallel to hoar and sleet 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.