Myths about marigolds

After the White Rabbit posting…

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Church secretary: A reader wrote in pointing out that marigolds cannot actually turn rabbits to stone.

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Tagetes patula

Archdeacon: There’s a lot of myths mistakenly attributing supernatural prowess to marigolds.

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Church secretary: But they do kill bugs, right?

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Archdeacon: Gardeners do say that if you plant marigolds near your veges, it prevents pests. And they keep nematode numbers down.

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Church secretary: Intriguing. How many marigolds should I plant?

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Archdeacon: It takes a lot of marigolds to deal with insects. And you need bushes of the Tagetes marigold to have any effect on nematodes. Science is more complicated than popular wisdom.

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Voice-over

A little knowledge simplifies. But over-simplification obscures.
...

White Rabbit: The marigold edition

WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT

Some say marigolds repel white rabbits.

The best marigold rabbit

Others say marigolds will turn white rabbits to stone.

And not just rabbits.

Evidence apparently supports this claim but don’t believe it until you see it.

There is a way to prevent such an igneous fate.

Say “White Rabbit” three times on the 1^st of every month.

And may your house become a Marigold Hotel.

WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT