Marigolds

Marigolds is the new orange....

They keep bugs away?  I had no idea.  Thanks for the education!

And great write, too!  

Thank you! Appreciate the reading list add.

Yes, the scent of marigolds will help repel some insects, and they can attract good beneficial insects too. There are different kinds of marigolds, so if you're a gardener, you may want to look into that and other companion plants. :-)

This is one of my mom's favorite flowers. This reads as a tribute to your father - but I
can't help but think about my mom. She is getting older and loves to garden.
We haven't planted any yet - I need to get her some this weekend. She puts by
her Virgin Mary statue outside.  Apparently they were a favorite of hers as well so my mom
pays her tribute and plants them by her.

Thanks for posting this and good luck in the comp:)

Oh, that's so sweet to know. Thank you for sharing! I so rarely hear anyone say that marigolds are a favorite flower, and it's nice to hear they're sentimental to others as well. I hope the marigold blooms are extra abundant this year. Appreciate the reading list add :-)

Oh the memories this conjured!!! We, too, planted various shades of pungent orange & yellow marigolds in the vegetable garden as a child in Texas (the hurricane line resonated there).  Great poem that got me reminiscing of scorching dirt under bare-feet (or wearing rainbow sandals which at that time we called “thongs”) collecting crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes & sweet crunchy peppers to carry up a ladder & enjoy in a treehouse.
Thanks for sharing. ☺️

I'm so glad I finally came up with an orange idea now! I love that there are other people with marigold memories and stories. Thank you so much for coming by to read and sharing the garden of your childhood with me. Seriously, this warmed my heart so much. And, thanks for the reading list add, too.

When I first read this I thought it was a contender for a place on the podium because of its sparse delicate phrasing and an emotional connection that’s very compelling.

Your usual bursts of interspersed alliteration and good sounds make this a
great read

Thank you for the vote of confidence and the compliments. Glad you enjoyed the read. :-)