By Sarah Smeby, OSU Hood River County Extension Central Gorge Master Gardener Volunteer
Fall has settled into the Gorge, and we’ve seen our gardens begin to fade. The fresh vegetables that have filled our kitchens have nearly finished, leaves have begun to turn and fall, and the joyful blooms of our summer flowers have started to wither. There are, of course, some blooms that continue well into the cooler weather–one such hardy plant is the marigold.
Boasting vibrant shades of gold and yellow, marigolds stand as a quintessential emblem of the season. These hardy blossoms serve as a vital thread in the cultural fabric of Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, celebrated with reverence throughout Mexico and throughout Mexican communities all over the world on the first and second of November.
Dia de los Muertos is a time to honor, celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed. It is common to create an altar, or ofrenda, with photos, candles, food, treasured items, and…marigolds.
Marigolds are known as cempasúchil in Mexico and are especially important to the tradition. The vibrant colors and distinctive fragrance are thought to help guide the spirits of the dead back to the world of the living. Often the petals are scattered in a pathway to the ofrenda and whole flowers are used in decoration for the altars and gravesites.
The connection between marigolds and Día de los Muertos is much older than the modern holiday itself. The flowers have been important to Indigenous cultures of Mexico long before Spanish colonization, and the traditions surrounding remembrance have evolved over the past centuries. The modern practices of Día de los Muertos blend Indigenous and Catholic influences and are a living, evolving cultural tradition.
For gardeners, it is notably special to connect the practice of remembrance to the practice of growing flowers. Tending a garden can be more than creating an ornamental space, it can be a place of history, culture and deep spiritual meaning
Growing Marigolds in your garden
If you want to include cempasúchil in your garden, whether or not they are a part of your remembrance traditions, the Columbia River Gorge is a great place to grow them. They are relatively unfussy annuals that thrive in full sun and well draining soil. There are of course, many varieties of flower sold as marigolds, but the traditional Mexican marigold is Tagetes erecta and is the one most commonly associated with Dia de los Muertos. It is commonly called the African or Aztec marigold, and is much taller and larger than the small French marigolds that are often used as bedding plants.
Like most flowers in our area, it is best to start them after the last frost. They do best with warm weather, and access to ample sun. Marigolds should be watered regularly, but once established are fairly drought tolerant.
If the goal is to have blooms well into the fall for your Dia de los Muertos celebration, it’s a good idea to plant a few varieties in succession. Dead-heading will encourage plants to continue blooming, but don’t hesitate to let a few go to seed! Just a few flowers can dry and provide you with all the seeds you’ll need for the following season! Let flower heads dry completely on the plant, then store in a cool dry place until ready to plant next spring.
The idea of gardening connecting us to traditions is not isolated – maybe you grow a certain variety of beans because they remind you of your grandfather, or always plant petunias because that’s what your mother had on her front porch. The tradition of marigolds connecting us to our loved ones is another beautiful example of a connection that reaches across time and generations.
Growing marigolds can be a meaningful way to remember your loved ones. For those who already celebrate Día de los Muertos, growing marigolds can be a new way to participate in a tradition of remembrance. For gardeners who are learning about the holiday, the flowers offer an invitation to learn more about the rich cultural traditions behind them.
This fall, when you see a patch of marigolds glowing gold in the shortening days, consider letting them stay a little longer. Their bright beauty can be more than a last burst of color before winter. For many, these flowers represent remembrance, love and the enduring connection between those who are here and those who came before us.
To learn more about growing marigolds and creating beautiful garlands, join Central Gorge Master Gardeners for a Garden Gathering workshop on Saturday, October 10th 10:00-11:30am at the OSU Hood River County Extension office, 2990 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River. This workshop will be offered a second time on Tuesday, October 13th 6:30-8:00pm at the White Salmon Library, 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon.
References:
Tagetes (Marigold) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
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