MARIGOLD 



This Marigold of southern Europe has enjoyed great and lasting 

 popularity. It has been dedicated to the Virgin and made promi- 

 nent at her festivals. It has been an em- 

 blem of affection and sympathy, as well as 

 of jealousy and grief. At the same time 

 that it adorned the dress of great ladies, it 

 was esteemed as the "Herb- General of all 

 pottage." The dried florets were supposed 

 to add greatly to the flavor of soups; and 

 syrups and conserves were made of the fresh 

 flowers. All these uses have passed away 

 and the plant now holds its place in the 

 garden because of its real merits as a hardy 

 annual, blooming from midsummer xmtil 

 frost. The flower-heads share with many 

 composites the habit of curving the rays 

 inward at night and so nearly closing the 

 head; within this half -closed head the 

 dewdrops often rest in the morning. This 

 peculiarity has appealed to English poets 

 from Shakespeare to Keats and has been the occasion of poetic 

 outbursts which have immortalized the flower. 



Marigold. Calendula 

 officinalis 



Hark, hark, the lark at heaven's gate sings 



And Phoebus 'gins to rise. 

 His steeds to water at those springs 



On chaliced flowers that lies; 

 And winking Mary-buds begin 



To ope their golden eyes. 



— "Cymbeline," Act II, Sc. 3, Shakespeare. 



The marigold, that goes to bed wi' th' sun, 

 And with him rises weeping: 



—"Winter's Tale," Act IV, Sc. 3, Shakespeare. 



Open fresh your round of starry folds. 



Ye ardent marigolds! 

 Dry up the moisture from your golden lids, 



For great Apollo bids 

 That in these days your praises should be sung. — Keats. 

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