• Growth habit: An upright to rounded cool season annual growing to 18 inches tall and equally wide. The leaves are medium green, elliptic in shape and growing to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide.

• Light: Plant in full sun to lightly shaded locations.

• Water needs: Prefers a moist soil but tolerates short period of drought.

• Feedings: Apply a general garden fertilizer monthly to in ground plantings; every other week to container plantings.

• Propagation: Start from seed.

• Ease of culture: Easy.

• Hardiness: Hardy

• Major problems: Plants are susceptible to nematodes; plant in pest -free soils. Chewing insects and slugs are common feeders.

• Pruning: Trim faded blooms from plantings to keep calendulas attractive and encourage additional buds. Remove declining plants when the hot weather returns and replace with warm season annuals.

• Uses: A colorful traditional annual gardeners can count on for cool season flowers in beds and containers. Buds open November through April producing displays of over 2 inch diameter blossoms in shades of yellow to orange colors often with a dark center; flowers may be single or double depending on the variety. Petals from pesticide-free plantings are edible and sometimes added to salads, soups and rice.

• Florida native: No; native to Europe and North Africa.

TOM MacCUBBIN

Special to the Sentinel

Homeopathy was developed more than 250 years ago by Samuel Hahnemann. The basic principle of homeopathy is that if a substance can produce symptoms in a healthy person then it can also work (once specially prepared and diluted) and relieve the symptoms of someone who is sick. This is based on the idea of �like cures like’. For example, when you chop an onion you may get a runny nose and streaming eyes. The homeopathic remedy is Allium Cepia which is derived from onions and would be used to treat these symptoms.

It is often prescribed for hayfever or colds. Homeopaths say more people are choosing homeopathy because they are worried about the side effects of conventional drugs.

Homeopathic remedies are drawn from the plant, mineral and animal worlds. Homeopathy treats the whole person, not just a symptom or disease. Homeopaths say it therefore has the potential to help people with a wide range of physical, psychological and emotional problems.

COLD AND FLU REMEDIES

ACONITE: Used to nip colds in the bud and is considered useful in the early stages of colds, flus, fevers and sore throats.

ALLIUM CEPIA: The symptoms of the Allium Cepia cold will be similar to those you get when chopping an onion, typically with streaming red eyes and nose, watery fluid from the nose with a burning sensation on the upper lip.

GELSENIUM: This is considered to be the best remedy for flu when the symptoms include a dull and sluggish feeling with a dull ache at the back of the neck. These symptoms tend to come on gradually and will include a feeling of chills up and down the spine and aching muscles.

PULSATILLA: For use on a cold where there is a green or yellowish discharge from the nose, changeable symptoms or if a person feels tearful.

OTHER HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

APIS: Used to treat bee stings and bites where there is hot swelling, redness and burning pain.

ARSENICUM: Used for vomiting and diarrhoea typical of food poisoning.

ARNICA: Used after physical accidents to reduce swelling and bruising. It is considered to be ideal after dental work or surgery to speed healing.

BELLADONNA: Used for fevers when a patient is red hot but often has cold hands and feet. Belladonna is also used for inflammatory responses where there is throbbing and heat or for throbbing headaches.

CALENDULA: Used for healing cuts and wounds after teeth extraction and labour. Homeopaths say it helps promote the formation of healthy scar tissue.

HYPERICUM: Used for treating injuries to parts of the body rich in nerve-endings such as the fingertips.

NUX VOMICA: The main remedy for hangovers or any over-indulgence in food and drink. This is considered a good remedy for people who work hard and play hard.

RHUS TOX: Used for strains and sprains.

SILICA: Used to force splinters or other foreign bodies out and is considered effective at clearing the end stages of a lingering cough.