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The Do List

The Oakland Public Library Wants YOU ... to Grow Really Tall Marigolds

Then, in August, it wants you to bring them back for competitive measuring. Don’t ask too many questions.
Rae Alexandra
A field full of yellow and orange marigolds, as seen from above.
The Oakland Public Library wants YOU ... to grow some nice, tall marigolds over the summer. Thanks. (Ksenia Pixelesse/Unsplash)

If you feel like it’s been forever since anyone gave you flowers, dry your eyes, turn off Taylor Swift’s Red album, and journey to your nearest Oakland Public Library. Why? Because libraries are where all the sexy people hang out, of course! But also … because nine branches in Oakland are currently giving marigolds away.

Some fun facts about marigolds!

  • Depending on the species, marigolds can grow up to four feet tall. Which is the same height as a donkey or an emperor penguin, two animals that absolutely should not be the same height as one other.
  • Marigolds attract pollinators to gardens (yay, bees!) and repel pest insects (boo, aphids!).
  • During Día de los Muertos, marigolds are a common sight because they’re thought to guide spirits back to their loved ones.
  • Marigolds ​​thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil, are relatively easy to grow, and stay out all summer long like your newly divorced auntie.
  • What do marigolds smell like? It depends on the species but … weed, kind of. It’s mostly weed. Or cat pee. Just have fun with it!

The César E. Chávez, Dimond, Elmhurst, Golden Gate, Martin Luther King Jr., Melrose, Rockridge, West Oakland and Main branches have been showering the public with these floral kisses since June 6. The last day to pick up a plant is June 12. There’s only one catch. Like being handed a rose on The Bachelor, if you receive library marigolds, it means that you’re automatically in competition.

The Oakland Public Library, you see, wants to find out who can grow the tallest marigolds over the summer. That means (because librarians are gonna librarian), they want you to return with your flowers sometime between Aug. 22 and 29, so someone can measure your stems — which is not a euphemism for something less family-friendly.

So, blossom-lovers, go pick up your cempasúchil now, and prepare to fall in love with a silent organism all over again, just like you did with that sourdough starter in summer 2020. Once your marigold obsession has begun, expect a little extra sunshine in your home, a wholesome summer-long pursuit, and a number of confused questions from your neighbors. Including: “Can I have my tape measure back?” And “Why are you skipping your annual summer vacation?” And, “But I thought you didn’t like weed?”

You can register to take part in the marigold-growing contest here.

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