Tagetes

For some reason mums have always brought marigolds to mind. This time of year especially, considering the abundance of burnt-golden flowers at the market and everywhere else. I had not known, for instance, that marigolds are an herb (an aromatic shrub, i.e.) having originated in South America. Both of the photos below feature African marigolds (tagetes erecta) which, interestingly, are a notable species of marigold due to their unpleasant aroma. More information can be found here.

Chimonanthus Praecox

Photo by Jim Mays on Flickr.

This waxy flowering mound is also known as "winter-sweet" due to its striking aroma throughout the cold winter months. Ketzel Levine describes it as "neither cloying nor overpowering, but lemonlike and spicy" and suggests it for indoor aromatic use. It only blooms in the Spring and seems highly unremarkable in its dormant state, although one must always remark upon encountering its