Electric Hewn Goldenrod

From the Greek elektron, amber — the substance whose static-electric properties were observed by Thales of Miletus. Used as a color modifier since the late nineteenth century after electric light made certain saturated colors feel attention-demanding. Electric blue, electric pink: the implication is hot luminance combined with optical impact. Sits at the bright-bucket extreme.

Old English hēawan, to-hew. As a color modifier, hewn implies a hand-cut-stone-or-timber quality, the visual register of hand-hewn-stone-and-timber hand-cut-and-shaped stone-and-timber-and-log hand-hewn-construction-and-craft surfaces under hand-hewn stone-and-timber workshop-light. Sits at the modifier-and-texture end of the grid, parallel to carved and cast 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.