Looking out the window, I'm watching a gentle rain fall on the garden while brewing a cup of calendula tea. It's the last of my stash, dried flowers saved from last year's garden.

I suppose I should be writing about dandelions or violets~ it's Spring and they're in bloom. But all I can think about on this grey, rainy day is sunshiny calendula....

Easy to cultivate, calendula may be sown directly in the garden from early spring into summer. It grows in partial shade or full sun and is tolerant of poor soil.

I direct-seeded calendula in my garden about a month ago and have lots of little sprouts now. I also have a whole flat I started indoors as backup.

Calendula is such an important herb for bodycare, I just could never have too much. I use it especially to calm skin irritations and chaffing, like diaper rash or sunburns, but it's healing influence is beneficial as daily care too.

It's also a gentle, general immune tonic, and is commonly used to heal wounds and as a remedy for affections of the lymphatic glands.

To learn more about growing and using calendula, take a look at Horizon Herbs' Calendula Information Page