Day 318: Have you ever really looked at a flower? There's nothing quite like botany to bring your focus to bear on the intricacies of a plant, but apart from the compelling urge to slap a Latin name on a specific species or subspecies, you don't need to know all the technical terms to appreciate the fine details in a blossom. Marigold "Tiger Eyes" could go a long way to raise your awareness levels. This one-inch flower is exquisite. Massed, it's lovely as a bedding plant, but look more closely at the individual. Observe the fringe on each petal of the disk flowers, note the dainty orange edge on the rays. Flip one over. Surprise! It's orange on the back. Look deeply into the centers of the disk flowers, imagine yourself as a bee searching for the sweet nectar hidden deeply within. Think about how the petals' furled and ruffled shapes hold the precious moisture of rain or dew, capturing and channeling it so that it drops to the soil at the base of the plant. I guarantee that if you take a closer look, you'll never think of Marigolds in quite the same light again.
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