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Thank you to everyone the joined in!
I'll be doing another give away soon... stay posted!
Now for Fresh-Cut Friday!
Marigolds, found all over the US, Europe and Western Asia, are hardy, annual plants and are great for cheering up any garden. They bloom almost non stop with few problems. Although they do attract slugs (yuck). French Marigolds are probably the most common and what we, in the US, think of when someone says "Marigold". They grow in tight little bunches 5 to 18 inches high. Easy to grow and perfect for fall flowerbeds with their rich warm shades of red, yellow and orange. Ideal for edging flowerbeds they also do very well in containers and widow boxes. (how cottage is that!?)
October's birth flower is sometimes called "summer bride" or "husbandmans dial," because it’s flower head follows the sun. Also called calendula, holligold, goldbloom, golds, ruddes, Mary bud, bull's eyes, pot Marigolds and the "Herb of the Sun". Marigolds are VERY popular in India because of the shades of gold. Once considered the most sacred of flowers, in India, it was placed around the necks of holy statues. This may have come from an early Christian tradition of placing garlands of "Mary's-Gold" around the necks of Holy Mary statues as a gift of gold from the poor. But the East Indian tradition could have come first too. It's hard to say.
The blossoms are actually edible and the plant it's self has many uses. Marigolds are known to be good for skin issues as well as a good cleanser and a yellow dye for foods. It is touted as a remedy for bee stings. I also read that it is supposed to be very good for ulcers and for the eyes, but I could not find out how you would administer it for these remedies. Maybe a tea? In Mexico, farmers feed their chickens feed that has been salted with Marigold seeds. It causes the eggs to be a more golden yellow and the chicken meat to be a more appealing shade when cooked.
Our ancestors may have used them for love charms and woven them into wedding garlands or placed them on or under a pillow to encourage prophetic or psychic dreams. The Welsh believed that if marigolds were not open early in the morning, then a storm was on the way. There was an old wives tale that eyesight could be improved simply by staring at a Marigold.
Now that I have shared all of that, I can tell you that I was a little surprised that such a simple, little flower like the common Marigold was a flower of the month. But now I realize that it has so many uses and has been around for centuries!
Because Marigolds don't survive once cut, I'm taking you out to the backyard.
Seriously!
Now let's see your flowers!
I'll be linking with:
Show and Tell Friday, Vintage Inspiration Friday, Potpourri Party, Feathered Nest Friday, and Home Sweet Home
