My favorite flower is the violet. Unobtrusive, fragrant, purple. It’s a lovely flower. But it is terribly un-photogenic, at least for me. On the other hand, Calendulas, or Pot Marigolds (as its common name goes) are so photogenic that they are practically models. Gorgeous ladies ready to strut their stuff. I take so many pictures of them that I want to fill a wall with yellow, orange, cream and peaches. There are the simples, and the doubles and the mutant ones, and the ones that we wonder where they have come from because they are as fluffy as a lion’s head or maybe a dandelion crossed with a mum and said, “oh let’s dress our kid up like a dahlia.” And autumn is their time to shine, though they start blooming in spring. But it’s the autumn ones that come on new plants that explode out in beauty.
Calendula is not only beautiful, but horribly medicinal as well. Salves made from the flowers can heal burns and chapped skin. The tisane made from the petals can help cure eye problems; infections and what not. I used to use a tea made of the flowers to help my rabbit’s eye. They are beautiful and useful. Honestly, they might be my second favorite flower. Now that I think about it.
Kate
Kate's Bookshelf 