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The View from Rattlesnake Ridge: A Season of Gold, A Frenzy of Tansy?

By Wayne D. King | September 5, 2025

Common Tansy by Wayne King

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By WAYNE D. KING

August and September bring forth a roadside frenzy of a welcome gold – invaders and natives alike

If you are a nature nerd or a native boy like me, you probably are pretty good at identifying many of the species of flora and fauna among the brothers and sisters of our natural world.

Although you may not consider them to be brothers and sisters, to many of us who have indigenous roots, they are.

Our blessings to the day often acknowledge our brothers and sisters, two-legged, four-legged, winged, those who swim, or crawl or slither.

Plants and trees, as well as inanimate objects like the stones that sing to us as water runs over, under, and around them on its journey to the sea, are also considered imbued with a spirit that celebrates their part in the natural world.

Many of us take great joy in naming the plants as we pass among them.

Now, take one more step up the ladder of language. You will find a whole host of what we term collective nouns for all these wonders of the natural world. Furthermore, the term can apply not just to the wonders of the natural world but to any group of things . . . “a squadron of jets,” for example, or “a flotilla of ships.”

In a way, collective nouns represent a joyful, multicultural foray into words that range from the serious to the absurd, from the quaint to the weird, from the practical to the poetic. They can be a useful tool for describing a grouping of objects or an uproarious and adventurous exercise in wordplay.

Many collective nouns have come to be generally accepted, linguistically and or culturally:

Of course, a “Pride of Lions” is a regal choice.

“A murder of crows” or “a parliament of owls” is sure to bring a smile to your lips.

An “exaltation of larks” seems just plain inspired.

Nothing prevents us from even creating our very own collective nouns, especially where none seem to exist. Whether they have any traction and catch on – well, only time will tell. Thus my contribution for today: a frenzy of Tansy.

This is where I am very likely to get into trouble with my colleague Michael Ferber, who knows more about etymology than most living human beings, so I need to be very cautious in claiming any authority. The truth is that if you take the idea of collective nouns and use AI as a teaching tool for discovering more about it, you will find yourself down a rabbit hole from which you may never emerge.

In late July and throughout the month of August and into September, roadsides here in New England are crowded with golden flowers. From a distance, or if you see the world through impressionist eyes or poorly prescribed glasses, they may look very similar. But get up close and you’ll see that there is a world of difference between the Goldenrod and Tansy.

There are more than 100 different subspecies of goldenrod. They paint the roadside where they have evolved over the eons. The Tansy, mostly what we call Common Tansy, on the other hand, have only been extant here in New England for about half a millenium after hitching a ride from Europe and Asia.

The Goldenrod – often blamed for all the hayfever attacks of later summer is actually falsely accused; the real culprit is the far more blandly painted Ragweed.

Despite the late arrival of Tansy here, it did not take long for my native grandparents, and greats before them, to identify effective uses for the plant. To them, it served far more purposes than the pretty fresh floral arrangements and dried decor for which I use it.

For those Indian nations that were more agriculturally based, Tansy is an ideal companion planting for gardens because it serves to help ward off pests. Naturally, it therefore functioned as a natural insect repellent for humans as well. My grandmother would often put dried Tansy flowers and leaves in drawers and spaces that might otherwise be inviting to mice, she swore by it as a natural way to ward off the little critters.

So naturally this brings us to the tropic (or topic) of “invasive species”

No, this is not about all those Colonial Europeans who made their best efforts to wipe out the indigenous people of the Americas in the years following Columbus’s wrong turn in 1492. Well, it is . . . But it isn’t specifically about that.

After all, let’s face it, human beings are the number one invasive species on the planet.

The one enduring aspect of this recognition is that we are also the only species that can use our intelligence to minimize the impact of our “invasion”. We generally don’t do a very good job of this, but we have the power.

Since, in theory at least, all of us of the genus “Homo” and the species “Sapiens” are “Humans, with the gift of wisdom” we could be presumed to be advanced enough to grant grace to those of different genders, even those we don’t fully understand; or those who have more or less melanin in their skin tone; or whose genetic propensity favors them to love and cherish those who are different in other ways too complex for us to even understand yet.

Incidentally, in most native nations, individuals who fall into this latter category were often revered as a gift of the “great mystery” – what Europeans translated into “the Great Spirit” because, I suppose, it was more consistent with their own set of creation myths.

Notes and Links:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Recent research confirming some of the benefits of Tansy.

Important Note on Toxicity: I’ve not specifically addressed the many recorded internal medicinal uses of Tansy. While tansy has been historically used for medicinal purposes, it is known to be toxic, especially in large doses or with long-term use. It contains a poisonous chemical called thujone, which can cause convulsions, liver and brain damage, and even death in severe cases. Furthermore, the concentration of these toxins within individual plants can vary wildly. It’s best to avoid it as an ingestive remedy. It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before using tansy for any medicinal purposes.

Tansy is known to repel a variety of insects, including mosquitoes, potato beetles, ants, cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, and some flying insects. It can also deter ticks, fleas, and mice.

Here’s a more detailed look:

Mosquitoes: Studies have shown that tansy oil can repel mosquitoes, though not as effectively as some commercial repellents.
Colorado potato beetles: Interplanting tansy with potatoes can reduce Colorado potato beetle populations, according to a study.
Ants: Tansy’s pungent aroma is thought to deter ants, according to some pest control companies.
Other insects: Tansy is also reported to repel cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, and some types of flying insects.
Ticks and fleas: Some sources state that tansy can also help repel ticks and fleas.
Mice: Certain sources list mice as another pest that tansy may deter.

You’ll need to compete with some bugs for tansy’s affections though. Honeybees in particular find it irresistible, and ladybugs hold it in such high esteem they will seek out tansy to lay their eggs on. . . but ladybugs are our friends! Tansy will host other pest predators such as braconid wasps and minute pirate bugs too.

Drying Tansy for winter bouquets

Tansy, with its bright yellow, button-like blooms and feathery foliage, makes a lovely addition to winter bouquets. Here’s how to dry it effectively:

Harvesting

Timing: Harvest tansy blooms when they are fully open to capture their vibrant color.
Stems: Cut long stems for easier hanging and remove the bottom leaves.
Gloves: Wear gloves when handling tansy, as its oils can cause skin irritation.

Drying methods

Air drying

Bundles: Group stems into small bunches and tie them together with string or rubber bands. Ensure bundles are not too crowded to prevent damp spots and rot.
Location: Hang bundles upside down in a warm, dry, dark place with good air circulation, such as an attic, closet, or pantry. Keeping them out of direct sunlight helps retain color.
Time: Air drying typically takes 2-3 weeks. Tansy blooms should dry within three weeks when hung in the right conditions. The flowers will slowly transform into a mustardy yellow when dry.

Silica gel

Silica gel: Silica gel is a desiccant that helps flowers retain their color and shape during drying.
Preparation: Place a layer of silica gel in an airtight container. Trim flower stems and insert them upright into the silica gel. Gently pour more silica gel over the blooms, ensuring the petals are covered and their shape is preserved.
Drying: Seal the container and leave it undisturbed for 2-6 days.
Removal: Gently remove the flowers and shake off excess silica gel. Store in an airtight container with a layer of silica gel at the bottom for future use.

With proper care, your dried tansy will maintain its beauty and add a touch of sunny cheer to your winter arrangements.

About Collective nouns

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun#:~:text=In%20linguistics%2C%20a%20collective%20noun,is%20called%20a%20%22parliament%22.

The first uses of collective nouns occur in the Book of Saint Albans

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Saint_Albans