Another favorite herb and flower in my garden is Calendula. It’s one of the most versatile plants I grow.
I always tuck a few Calendula plants into my garden, and I also have a patch of them that come up every year in one of my perennial flower beds.
Calendula is also known as “Pot Marigold.” They’re considered an annual, but the plant usually re-seeds itself, and once you get it established will come back every year.
Pot Marigold usually starts blooming mid summer, and will continue blooming until a hard frost. The plants enjoy good soil quality, but they will still grow even when the soil’s poor.
I pluck the flowers off my Calendula plants and lay them out to dry. I store the dried flower heads in airtight containers and use them to make handmade soap. Calendula is supposed to be soothing to the skin, so I add the petals to my glycerin soaps. The leaves and flowers contain beta carotene, and lutein.
The fresh petals are also great for salads, stir fry, and soups. The petals add a beautiful orange or yellow splash of color to your dish.
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I love calendula. It’s great for so many things. In fact, it was Herb of the Year for 2008.