PHOTOGRAPHY
Just a Bunch of Fun Facts About the Slender Leaf Marigold
Have you ever heard of Marigold Margaritas?
(These snapshots were taken across the street from my building.)
This flower is the Slender Leaf Marigold.
(Scientifically known as Targetes tenuifolia.)
Some other names it goes by:
- The Signet Marigold
- Mexican Marigold
- Lemon Gem (my personal fave)/Lemon Star Gem
- American Saffron
(From here on out, I’m calling them Lemon Gems; I love that alternate name for it the most.)
Lemon Gems are native to Mexico but are popular in Central America. They are annual (yearly) herbs that bloom from early Summer to Fall.
In the fall, Lemon Gems produce fruits called Achene (a black fruit with tufted seeds).
They are the perfect starter plant for first-time gardeners because they are low maintenance and can tolerate various soil conditions as long as it is organic.
Lemon Gems, however, cannot tolerate shade and require six or more hours of direct sunlight daily.
Lemon Gems are part of the Daisy family (Asteraceae).
They are drought-tolerant and resistant to rabbits and deer.
Their flowers attract butterflies, bees, and birds.
Only two species of marigolds are edible.
Calendula and Tagetes (pictured in this article) are the only two edible species of Marigolds.
Lemon Gems have a lemon flavor with a subtle peppery flavor added in as well. They are infused into oils and vinegar for flavoring and used as a garnish for multiple dishes because of their lemon-pepper flavoring.
Lemon Gems can be chopped and added into dips and spreads. You can even make butter from them (recipe included at the end of this section).
Lemon Gems leaves are feathery and can be lightly cooked with vegetables or tossed in a salad. The petals can also make a salad.
I’d recommend using the petals and the leaves because the base of the flower is bitter. You’ll get the best quality and flavor if you consume them immediately after harvesting them.
However, the petals can be harvested for up to three days if you keep them in a plastic bag. If the stems are still attached to the flowers, you can preserve flowers overnight through refrigeration.
Fun fact:
Marigolds can be steeped into a tea and used to make other beverages. One common alcoholic beverage made with Lemon Gems is Marigold Margaritas.
They are commonly used to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead); which is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead.
It is traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd but in certain locations, October 31st (Halloween) has also been included.
(I personally celebrate an event called Samhain at this exact same time, and it lasts three days. My celebration involves rituals and offerings; flowers included.)
For more marigold recipes: Here, Here, and Here.
Learn to make Marigold soda: Here.
Lemon Gems are companion plants.
(I took these pictures in a different garden nearby; they look orange because of the lighting; they are yellow.)
Lemon Gems contain thiophene.
Thiophene is a biocidal compound that acts as a natural pesticide to control nematodes in the field.
The thiophene in Lemon Gems deters mosquitoes, insects, and small animals (like rabbits). Gardeners tend to plant Lemon Gems near bodies of water where insects reside and alongside other plants (as shown above) and vegetable gardens as a protective and preventative measure.
This is called composite planting.
is the practice of growing several types of crops near one another to enhance crop production.
Lemon Gems are a well-known composite plant.
There’s a Marigold Festival in Peltin, Illinois every year.
There’s a place in Illinois called Pekin that honors all different species of marigolds with an annual Marigold Festival. Townsfolk developed the festival in honor of a man named Everett McKinley Dirksen.
Dirksen was the senator of Illinois and a former resident of the town who loved marigolds and campaigned (unsuccessfully) for them to become the national flower of the U.S.
Dirksen’s influence drove many to plant marigolds in their gardens and around the town, causing it to become a symbol of Pekin.
They created the festival in 1973.
Learn more about the history of the Marigold Festival: Here.
Lemon Gems are aromatic plants.
As the name suggests, Lemon Gems smell like lemons. They carry a strong lemon fragrance that will linger on your hands long after you’ve touched them (longer than an hour), making Lemon Gems one of the most aromatic plants around.
Lemon Gems are a highly valued healing herb.
Lemon Gems contain anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory substances.
The Aztecs were the first to discover this, as they notoriously used Lemon Gems for holistic purposes. Lemon Gems then became staples of medical health in Ancient Egypt and Greece.
In Peru, their leaves have treated bruises because the iodine present in Lemon Gems promotes skin cell regeneration. In Mexico, they have been used to treat snakebites.
- stomach flu
- indigestion
- constipation
- infant diarrhea
If you have a sore throat, gargling marigold tea will alleviate the pain by soothing the mucus membranes of the throat; it has the same effect on mouth ulcers.
Marigolds contain lycopene.
is a type of organic pigment called a carotenoid? It is related to beta-carotene and gives some vegetables and fruits (e.g., tomatoes) a red color. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that might help protect cells from damage.
Lycopene contains properties that reduce the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease.
These Lemon Gems get their rich, yellow color from the carotenes and carotenoids they contain. These two compounds also give them medicinal properties while packing the plant with Vitamin A.
Lemon Gems also contain lutein.
is an antioxidant that occurs naturally. It protects and improves eye function. It is part of a group of substances called carotenoids. Lutein and other carotenoids, such as zeaxanthin, may help prevent or slow macular degeneration
Lutein also acts as a natural pesticide, assisting thiophene in its insect-repelling properties.
For more info on the medicinal benefits of Marigolds, here.
Learn more about medicinal herbs: Here.
Thanks for reading. ❤
© Linda Sharp 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Check out this writer
I just came across a beautiful writer by the name of Mimira Smith.
She penned a heartfelt piece called The Teapot of Comfort about the real-life struggle with anxiety (agoraphobia) and the importance of reconnecting with your inner child as a form of self-care.
I found this piece of art to be a slice of life with a familiar reality check as an appetizer if I’m being honest.
I also struggle with agoraphobia based on traumas I faced commuting in these mean New York City streets. I recognized her trauma but it was where it’s taken Mimira that touched my heart.
The Teapot of Comfort
I rediscovered childhood warmth and protection within a teapot set.
medium.com
Be gentle with this delicate read ❤
✍ — Published by DR Rawson — The Possibilist at Dancing Elephant Press. Click here for guidelines to post click here.