Margaret Don't Forget The Marigolds

I always loved flowers, any kind. any which way. I thought they were peaceful and beautiful, and for some reason my Mum was not so much into them. Mum actually could not stand if someone sent her a bouquet of flowers for a special occasion.

I thought that's too bad I think they are beautiful.

Mum would say all flowers just die! Don't you know!

I kinda thought even as a little kid, how can you not like a flower, sure they die its the circle of life isn't it. Wise thought as a little kid don't you think.

When I became older I thought that she must to been to many funerals to hate a sad little flower so much.

I remember being in the back yard and my Dad would be planting these sad looking orange flowers, the Marigold. Honestly I thought they were kinda sad looking, but I could smell them and thought they smelt good, they just needed water or something.

My Father said these little flowers will keep the beasties away.

As a little kid I thought yeah sure they will, not really convinced.

I grew up in a small town in Hespeler , Ontario. My parents were hard working people, and always gave my brother , sister and myself a lot of love. In the summer we would try and have barbecues the old way with charcoal. We were not that good at it, but good enough, we always had fun.

My Father would always say. we cant forget to get the marigolds to plant they keep the mosquito's away. I thought that was funny, like how can a little flower do that?

Every year my Dad would plant Marigolds. My Dad also had a fascination with Monarch butterflies as well.

Years went by and my Dad became ill, and was not coming home from the hospital. I went to visit him just before he was going to pass and he looked right at me and said " Margaret don't forget to plant the Marigolds they keep the mosquito's away " I said ok Dad, but honestly thought it was the last thing on my mind.

My Dad passed away in May 2006.

That summer I failed to plant the Marigolds. I actually felt quite guilty, but by July I figured it was too late to plant them. That was my excuse in my mind.

I was over helping do lawn chores for my Mum. Was doing some weeding and could not believe what I saw. Marigolds not one, but three! Three is my favorite number by the way. They are not perennials are they???. Well at least I didn't think so. What happened next was unbelievable, a Monarch came and landed on the Marigold and looked at me.

I burst into tears, and could hear my Fathers voice clear as day say" Ucckk Lassie you forgot to plant the Marigolds, no worries, I remembered, and everything is under control".

Going forward no word of a lie, those three Marigolds come back every year, and so does the Monarch.

My Mum loves flowers now, especially the Marigold. My story to her touched her heart forever.

Mum said "your father was right about those Marigolds, they are special, I was just too blind to see it." Sure flowers die but that Marigold will in our heart forever.

Every summer we do not plant any Marigolds, no need, those three just keep coming up every year.

We have those barbecues every summer, no mosquito's and that's good enough for us.

Margaret Deighan