These "are the summer galls made by that fly, Rhopalomyia hirtipes, on early blooming goldenrod. The adults in the field are now (fall) laying eggs near the crown of that plant. In spring a similar but smaller gall will develop near the crown, the first generation of this fly." R Gagne (many thanks)

Galls originially collected 19-Sep-2010.
2 galls and some dead flies were sent to me.
(photo date of very dead fly)