Here are a few photos from the Garden …
Deep Orange Echinacea in the Butterfly and Bee Garden …
Echinacea:
Echinacea angustifolia; Echinacea pallida; Echinacea purpurea; Purple coneflower
Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in America today. Echinacea is a Native American medicinal plant named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, which resembles the spines of an angry hedgehog (echinos is Greek for hedgehog).
Ha ha … angry hedgehog !! ….. 🦔
Archaeologists have found evidence that Native Americans may have used echinacea for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds, and as a general "cure-all."
Throughout history people have used echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.
Today, people use echinacea to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu, and reduce symptoms, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever. Many herbalists also recommend echinacea to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections.
Source: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/echinacea
We make Echinacea Tea with the flowers and leaves. 🫖
To prepare loose leaf echinacea tea:
Place flowers, leaves, and roots of an echinacea plant in a teacup. ...
Bring water to a boil and then let sit for a minute to reduce the temperature just slightly.
Pour 8 ounces of water over the plant parts.
Let the tea steep for as long as desired.