My friend Pam recently asked me why I dislike marigolds and zinnias, two of her favorites, and it gave me an opportunity to ponder the wider implications of her question (who knew there were any?) Could it be just the tip of an iceberg of snobbery that should be exposed in the name of inclusivity? Hmm.
I’m guessing that most plant likes and dislikes are simpy a matter of personal taste, like my dislike for peonies and hollyhocks. No particular reason. But other plants I dislike because of unpleasant associations with them - like gladiolas and funerals. And some I like because of a positive association - like the mophead hydrangeas I first saw in the funky old beach town my family went to when I was a kid (Buckroe Beach, Virginia.)
But then we come to those blasted zinnias and marigolds. Partly it’s simply a dislike for the colors, especially orange, which I’ve banished from my entire property. I’m sorry, but they clash with everything I grow. And partly it’s the use of them as what we derivisvely call "bedding plants," meaning large monocultures of them, often along streets and especially at gas stations. We’ve had to look at this tired old design scheme for, oh, 50 years now? And I think we’d appreciate seeing in commercial plantings something more naturalistic, more drought-tolerant, and more varied.
But to make my case that I’m really not a snob (entirely), I offer my favorite decorated toilet from the Montgomery County Fair, which I shared with you way back in my first week of blogging. High class it’s not, but some real design thought went into this and what’s more, it’s totally fun. Which reminds me, I’ll have to show you some of the great found plumbing in my friend Carole’s garden. Carole, got any shots I can use?
Now I hope I’ve managed to agree with both Kathy Jentz’s thoughtful comment on my "Must-Miss Garden Shows" post and Amy Stewart’s interesting post on gardening as decorating. Inclusivity at work.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Kathy Jentz 10.26.05 at 2:58 pm
One friend I know hates Calla Lilies due to their funeral association and another say that about Asiatic Lilies — still others about Mums. Guess the funeral industry has ruined many perfectly good cut-flower choices for people! I admit to being a cut-flower snob about mums myself. They are okay in pots on your porch or in mixed planting beds, I don’t ever want to see another one in a florist arrangement — to me it screams: CHEAP! Worst is the single mum with color-dyed tips (blue!) and a spare sprig of Baby’s Breath in a 10 cent glass vase. Ugh!
I agree that it is a matter of taste and personal associations. I’m crazy for orange myself — though I can see it is an acquired flavor for others.
My real prejudice is against “stinkers.” Marigolds and some herbs like Dill stay out of my garden solely because of their offensive smell. This summer someone gave me a pack of marigold seeds and I said, “Why not?” and threw a bunch on a hidden spot — all came up and started crowding in — I separated them, gave many away, and planted the rest of the seeedlings everywhere in my garden that I found a bare spot in the sun. Four months later they are still blooming up a storm — a stranger might think I was a marigold nut! I guess they have their usefulness and have now won me over… or maybe I’m just mellowing in my old age.
Pam 10.26.05 at 3:46 pm
Here’s flowers for you,
Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram,
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ th’ sun.
And with him rises weeping.
- William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale (Perdita at IV, iv)
Sandy 10.26.05 at 4:56 pm
You don’t like peonies!!!They are one of my favorites. Gardening is totally about personal taste. I used to be more hard lined on my likes and dislikes. Some people are just going to like marigolds,fluffy curtains and wallpaper borders. I personally don’t. You wouldn’t see a marigold anywhere near my garden but if my neighbor likes it…oh well! Man I’m getting mellow in my old age!!!!
Pam 10.27.05 at 12:30 am
I love peonies too. Ants and all.
“Some people are just going to like marigolds,fluffy curtains and wallpaper borders.”
hmmmm. I recently said I would start trying to avoid sarcasm in all my emails and other electronic messages, but I can’t resist saying that I always love being reduced to a cultural stereotype.
Maybe marigolds are prevalent b/c (a) you can buy them anywhere —- groc stores,hardware stores, (b) they’re cheap, (c) they’re hardy, and (d) they are pretty much guaranteed to bloom a long time. I think so many people (like me) are not gardeners but have a notion each spring that we’d like to plant something. And many people don’t want to spend much effort on their annual planting so marigolds are an easy fix. I wonder too if what Susan said (”…[we see them ]often along streets and especially at gas stations. We’ve had to look at this tired old design scheme for, oh, 50 years now?”)explains in a psychological way why they’re popular. Maybe we feel soothed by the familiar, stuff from the gauzy past that we remember as innocent and simple.
Have I overthought this yet?
Pam (who has no fluffy curtains or wallpaper borders but plenty of other tacky stuff)
Sandy 10.27.05 at 1:29 am
I’m sorry Pam if I offended you. I was trying to make a point that we all like different things and that is okay. I wrote a similiar thing on my blog awhile ago about snobbery in the garden. I am far from a garden snob or any kind of snob for that matter. I also was not implying that fluffy curtains and wallpaper borders were tacky. They are just not my style and contempory isn’t everybodys either but thats what I like. The reason I don’t have marigolds is because I am not crazy on orange in my garden. The little yellow lemongems I don’t mind. Please feel free to view my post on this subject in I believe my Sept archives.
MistressMary 10.27.05 at 6:18 am
Oh, you gardening people are funny with your passionate opinions. Me, I’m just happy if the weeds are not smothering the marigolds and zinnias. I’ve got no eye for design. I’m still trying to figure out how to get Susan over here to give me a free consult. But honestly, I’d be a little embarrassed for her to see the garden in the state it is now.
Susan 10.27.05 at 6:47 am
Mary - for a friend (and blogging inspiration) I consult for the price of a home-cooked meal.