• 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

But don’t give up hope as there are plenty remedies to help you look more youthful. Here are some tips to help you turn back your age clock.

HEALTHY DIET

Don’t leave your food choices to the last minute, according to health experts Tim Bean and Anne Lang.

They recommend taking 10 minutes every three days to make a plan. Decide what you’ll eat for the next three days. Base the menu on unprocessed “superfoods” such as wild game and fish, fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits and seeds.

They say you should plan four main meals a day (breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner), but you can make your life easier by having the same food that you have one day, for a different meal the following day.

GREEN TEA

You don’t just have to drink it – green tea is thought to help even when applied to your skin, and many skincare products contain it.

It contains plant chemicals 20 times stronger than those found in vitamin E.

So when it’s applied to the skin, it protects from damage by free radicals.

HERBS

MANY herbs are thought to have antiageing properties. Pine Bark Extract is said to protect skin by binding elastin and collagen and preventing their breakdown, so reducing wrinkles.

W Calendula works on the skin by helping create new blood vessels. It also contains carotenoid pigments and lutein, the antioxidant effects of which fight free-radical damage.

Research also indicates that calendula stimulates collagen synthesis and cell regeneration. The active ingredients in aloe vera have healing, antiin flammatory, cell renewal and moisturising effects.

Studies suggest kigelia to be rich in derivatives of caffeic acid which has antioxidant properties.

It’s also thought to have an antiin flammatory effect on the skin and contains hormone-like substances that firms up the skin.

Gotu kola acts as an anti-inflammatory and also activates collagen synthesis and slows collagen breakdown.

Description:
Calendula Gel contains Marigold (Calendula officinalis) which has antibiotic, anti-fungus and anti-inflammatory properties and is suggested to promote healing of minor cuts, scrapes, burns, bruises, chicken pox rash, diaper rash, eczema, insect bites, fungus, and varicose veins.

Ingredients:
Calendula Officinalis 1X 7%, Purified Water, Carbomer, Silicone Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Methylparaben.

Product Research:
Boiron was founded in France in 1932 by pharmacists Jean and Henri Boiron. Since then, it has grown to become the largest homeopathic manufacturer in the world. Their mission is to promote scientific homeopathy as a more compassionate, ecological, and comprehensive approach to medicine. All U.S. Boiron products are manufactured in strict accordance with FDA and HPUS regulations for homeopathic medicines.

Recommend:
For minor cuts, scrapes and skin irritation, first gently cleanse the area with mild soap, rinse and dry. For minor burns, first run cool water on the burn and dry. Then gently apply a thin layer of Calendula Gel to affected area 3 times a day or as needed.

Cautions:
For external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. If conditions persists or grow worse, consult your physician.

Check calendula.name soon