12,000 - Today's Number

Have you noticed a pattern? My last numerical post was the number 12, and today's is 12,000. This wasn't planned. It's the result of a story a friend shared.  Her husband decided to plant marigolds. A lot of marigolds. 12,000 to be exact. He planted them in a relatively small area - a few feet wide by about two car lengths. - I'm guessing about 12 feet. I found myself smiling for the rest of the day, elated at the thought of the excessiveness. 

What a creative, grand gesture! Large numbers can lift what would be a rather mundane, every day event to extraordinary. Memorable moments can be achieved quickly through multiplication! Amethysts are the treasure most likely to use excess and exaggeration in memorable gift giving. Scroll down to the section on how each of the treasures use roses in gift giving for examples. 

Those of you who have been following my posts probably know that I am enchanted with the legends, lore and history of plants. You may also know that I visited India where the extravagant use of marigolds is a daily occurrence. So there were a number of things about the marigold planting that delighted me.

I arrived in India in the early hours of a full moon night. Even though the hour was late, the traffic was still memorable. It was shortly after my ride through the streets of Delhi, weaving in and out of patternless traffic completely amazed that no one hit anyone, that I learned that marigolds were credited with protection. Strands of marigolds were draped from rear view mirrors, piled on dash boards and draped across laps as unsecured seat belts. This from Article VI of Peter Hughes hilarious 12 rules of the Indian Road. (The number 12. There is it again. None of this is by accident).

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Article VI - "in the absence of seat belts (which there is), car occupants shall wear garlands of marigolds. These should be kept fastened at all times."
~ Peter Hughes

In a few months my friend and her husband will be able to make bouquets, garlands to use as seat belts, leis, or ropes of the blossoms to  decorate buildings. A four story building in Delhi was draped with garlands that dropped from the roof to the almost street level and back up creating exquisite, abundant garlands all over the building. 

The lei on the left is a gift I received when I was honored at a Swami convention!  That's a post for another time!

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Marigold - Calendula officinalis

Marigolds have a rich and extensive history - you could find volumes on them, I'm sure. Here are just a few highlights that might entice you to learn more. 

• The marigold is a masculine plant associated with the sun. 
  
• It's element is fire. 
  
• Marigolds provide protection, not only in traffic, but in your home and when dealing with legal matters.
  
• If you place them under your pillow or your bed, they will ensure prophetic dreams. 
  
• The officinalis in their Latin name indicates that they have been used as a healing herb. 
  
• The petals are delightful sprinkled in salads, in corn bread, dips. Use your imagination! Or, if you feel like going on a treasure hunt, you'll find more ideas on using the calendula under orange in my feast_of_flowers 
  
• There are numerous songs and films honoring the marigold.
• Marigolds have been used to dye fabrics, and cosmetics.
• Adding marigolds to chicken feed is said to make the yolks of their eggs more yellow. 
• In the 1960s, when flowers were competing for the honor of becoming out National Flower, David Burpee, the president of Burpee, advocated for the marigold. If you've read my book on the legend and lore of roses, or probably even if you haven't, you know the winner. 

The marigold does have other valuable attributes! If you skip through a field of marigolds - ok, you don't have to skip - once your feet come in contact with them you will be able to understand the language of the birds!

And if you stare at their vibrant golden color, they are said to improve eye sight.

As you can tell, my friend and her husband are in for a real treat when these 12,000 plants produce these lovely sunny golden orbs!