October Gift Flower: Calendula

Dried calendula at a Turin, Italy market September 2016.

October Gift Flower: Calendula or Pot Marigolds

I had to go to Italy, it seems, to find actual Calendulas. They were dried ones but Calendulas nevertheless. What struck me was how bright the colors were even in dried form.

Commonly called pot marigolds, Calendula officinalis has long been a staple in British cottage gardens. Like traditional marigolds, petals of the calendula flower are used in cooking and were used as yellow coloring in cheeses and butters in centuries past.

When used in stews, broths and salads, petals of the calendula flower add a spicy taste similar to saffron to many dishes.

Flowers and leaves of the calendula may be dried and stored for later use.

In the vegetable garden, calendula draws aphids away from valuable plants.

While uses of calendula plants are diverse, growing calendula in the flower or herb garden is an optimum use of this attractive plant. Calendula plants are frost tolerant and somewhat cold hardy and add long-lasting color and beauty in a flower bed or container. 

Charlotte

Personalized Wedding Flower Gifts

One of the lovely centerpieces at the July 23, 2016 wedding of a dear friend's son in Kansas City.

Personalized Wedding Flower Gifts

There is nothing quite like a wedding, bringing two families and their related friends together for a celebration of the joining of two hearts. I am a bit of a romantic at these events, and one of the things I enjoy, besides meeting people, is the flowers.

At this wedding, the flowers were white and pink, the bride's favorite color. Pink tea and floribunda roses and carnations honored the bride's spirit, interspersed with white mums and hydrangeas among a sea of greenery. Reminded me of the green double wedding ring quilt I like to give as a wedding gift.

I had a hard time not leaning over at every reception table to try to catch a whiff of the flower scents.

Other guests also seemed to enjoy the arrangements. Towards the end of the evening, the flower arrangement at my table started to show bald spots.

The centerpiece at my table started to develop bald spots towards the end of the evening.

 I watched as one of the guests left with one of the pink roses tucked in her purse.

Next thing I knew, mother of the groom is asking me to help collect the flowers so she could give them away as thank you gifts. Such a lovely gesture as family and friends left with a lovely floral memento of the beautiful evening.

Tuck in a seating card. I took my table seating card, too to use as a book mark. Such wonderful memories!

Charlotte