Marigold in full blossoming

Vibrant yellow and gold European plant

shining from June to October

The Romans called it Calendula

relating to the first day of the month

*

Tagetes varieties are well-known throughout America

and were used by ancient Aztecs

in religious ceremonies and medicinal treatments

finally reaching Spain during 15th-century expeditions

*

Healing properties of marigolds

are out of the question

They cure all skin ailments :

bruises, contusions, and varicose veins

*

Minor skin injuries and inflammation

will also find a relieving salvation

in those flowers fond of the sun

from the nuns’ herbarium

*

Ointment from marigolds

it's an antidote to wounds in eczema and sunburn

How to prepare one is pretty easy

in your own home conditions

*

Flowers have to be preserved in olive oil

for three weeks in a dark and cool place

and then the obtained filtered oil

mixed with wax you can use for a couple of months

*

But these are not the only profits you can get

from those energetic friends

as they can also be useful in the kitchen

adding colour, character, and a gentle gurgling gesture

*

Flowers will add a staple spice to your kitchen

with a mild flavour

for your drink, pesto, or a soup

So be prepared and never forget that

*

Marigold can also serve

as a natural pigment

for butter and cheese

sharper appearance

*

Fried marigolds

are made for the perfect snack

finger food, appetiser, and a salad

in the summertime

*

Dipped in batter and sweetened with honey

then deep-fried till golden brown

will bring you jolly satisfaction

from unusual food, leaving jaundiced jealousy far behind

*

Dried flowers added to a tea

also have useful qualities

They soothe cramps and naturally aid digestion

This path to survival will surely find an ally in this subject

*

Stomach ulcer, nausea, and menstrual discomfort

you can eliminate it all with just one flower

helping you fall asleep without a headache

only with a cold compress, bath, and alleviating inhalation

*

It will find you relaxed, stress-free, and rested

What more could you wish in this environment?

Marigolds are everywhere

just look around to help yourself efficiently!

*

Long blooming is a characteristic feature

of this real lady of the garden

Although it can fully blossom for merely one year

gardeners are well aware of these habits

*

The plant sows itself for the next year

dispersing mature seeds

in the garden

cultivated in a low-maintenance space

*

The curved seeds very much resemble minute semi-circles

and through their hooks

are scattered all over the garden

by the animals’ fur

*

Ensuring the continuity of the species

for countless generations

they can withstand a comparison to the shape of “a little clock”

in full bloom

*

They are a protective companion for other plants

in vegetable gardens

by quelling the nematodes attack in the soil –

pests hungry for any vegetable

*

Marigold smell

has a terrifying effect

on rabbits invading carrots, cabbages, beets, and radishes

and scaring them away like shit

*

Marigolds connote the positive energy of the sun:

power, resurrection, and redemption

yet also symbolise the deepest meaning

of death, despair, and doomed destiny

*

They are called “the flowers of grief”

as during the night

the dew accumulated on marigold petals is a sign

of weep in the morning as moisture drips from the blossoms

*

In different cultures, the marigold flower has a separate meaning

depending on the custom of their inhabitants

They are sacred in Mexico and their glistening golden glow

illuminates shrines, altars, and gravesites on the Day of the Dead

*

Similarly in Buddhism, marigolds

placed in temples, on altars, and near Buddha statues

commemorate and worship the Buddha

with a delicate combination of lotus flower

*

In Hinduism, the appearance of a marigold as close to the sun

is used in wedding celebrations

symbolising propitiousness, brilliance, and efficacious energy

emanating from the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu

*

In Christianity, marigolds (Mary’s gold) are the crown of Virgin Mary

surrounding the Earth

Gold-coloured flowers were used instead

gold coins to pay for the prayer by the poor believers

*

In ancient Egypt and Greece

marigolds were appreciated for their medicinal properties

In the Victorian era, they were associated with grief, mourning, and despair

playing the role of a flower of remembrance

*

In the Middle Ages it was believed

that carrying these magic flowers

will bring the opposite sex

for women and men

*

The plucked flower petals counted by girls

were doubts expressed in the mouth of the oracle

whilst the ointment from marigolds applied before bedtime

supposed to bring the loved ones closer to them

*

with the help of St. Luke

as the remedy

healing a broken heart

don’t you dare to question it

*

when you see a marigold

in romantic red rampant

fiery hue

saying, “I love you!”

– THE END –

***

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