Skip Whitcomb (American, B. 1946) "Summer Garden Flowers - Marigold" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 29c Marigold stamp issued April 28, 1994. Although the name Marigold as used in America refers to members of the Tagetes genus, which includes African and French Marigolds, the pot Marigold of the Calendula genus is the flower from which the name was derived. Originally dubbed Mary's Gold by ancient herbalists, this species and other unrelated plants also share the Marigold moniker. Interestingly, the varieties called French and African, which are among the most common garden flowers in North America, are misnamed. Both are in fact native to Mexico. Despite this confusion, the popularity of these fiery blooms of yellow, orange and red continues to thrive. Making distinctive additions to summer flower beds and window boxes, these handsome annuals flourish in porous soil in a sunny location. Marigolds varieties grow in varying heights from six inches to almost three feet, allowing for an assortment of uses. The flower heads also differ in size and petal type. Some resemble small carnations while others look like daisies. Many varieties also possess strongly-scented foliage that acts as a natural insect repellent. Image Size: 15.25 x 13 in. Overall Size: 18 x 15 in. Unframed. (B14712) See More