
Calendula, aka Marigold, is the birth flower of everyone born in October. Did you know they are edible?

They are high in flavonoids, a polyphenolic crystalline compound present in seeds, leaves and in stems of yellow pigment, reducing free radicals (see def. below, I'm learning this as I go) in the body. Add the petals to salads, rice, and desserts. They are antiviral, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. You can even make a tea to soothe ulcers and an upset stomach. Slugs love them! This I knew, which is why I avoided planting them in the garden, until today; I planted seeds of white Marigolds that tolerate shade. Maybe I'll add some to my Summer salads.
Definitions of free radicals:
An American jazz, funk, hip-hop, avant-garde, ska,
reggae, African music, Indian music, punk, klezmer, polka and latin
jazz group based in Houston, Texas. Or...
An atom or molecule with at least one unpaired electron, making it
unstable and reactive. When free radicals react with certain chemicals
in the body, they may interfere with the ability of cells to function
normally. Antioxidants can stabilize free radicals. I'm sure this is the definition I was looking for. Maybe our mothers should have been telling us to "EAT YOUF MARIGOLDS, before the slugs do!" instead of, "EAT YOUR PEAS, before they get cold!"