Manic Surge Goldenrod

Greek manikós, raving / mad — sharing root with mania. As a color modifier, manic implies a saturated-and-overstimulated-and-extreme quality, the bright color of Andy-Warhol-and-Pop-Art late-Pop-Art repeated-and-multiplied portrait color schemes. Sits at the bright-and-active end of the grid, parallel to hyper and frenetic in usage.

Latin surgere, to rise up. As a color modifier, surge implies a swelling-tide-and-storm-rise quality, the visual register of Atlantic-storm-front tide-and-spring-tide rising-sea-water surge-and-sea-spray coastal-flooding surfaces under low-pressure sky. Sits at the modifier-and-place end of the grid, parallel to wave and whirl 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.