Herb
of the Week for 20th February
Spectacular Echinacea by Lynn Kirkland
Echinacea is a spectacular herb to grow in your garden and if you are not
making herbal medicine from the plant then it will adorn your garden with
its radiant flowers.
It does make a long lasting cut flower as well.
At the herb farm we love to have fresh flower arrangements in the shop however
there is a ban on using Echinacea blooms in the vases as we use every one
there is to make our precious Echinacea tincture.
This tincture is used for boosting the immune system. It is taken when you
feel first symptoms of a cold or flu and we also use the tincture in our
echinacea healing cream to help soothe and repair itchy skin conditions.
Echinacea is a perennial herb which dies down in winter.
I have found it resents being moved and seems to get set back if you transplant
it.
So choose a nice sunny spot and let it get established and over time the
clumps will increase in size.
The bees and bumble bees are enjoying the nectar feast that they can indulge
in at this time.
The nectar from both Echinacea flowers and sunflowers seems to induce a
stupor and you can observe these insects zonked out on the flowers!
I thought the photo had a carnival like appearance and looking at it made
me feel happy and joyful.
So I picked this herb for this week to salute my Dad, Bob Rogers, who has
celebrated his 89th birthday on Wednesday and has planned a party to celebrate
his launch into his 90th year.
That's the kind of attitude that is so inspiring and like Echinacea; I
believe a positive attitude boosts your immune system.
So be happy and joyful and as an insurance policy have a small bottle of
Echinacea tincture on hand in case you do succumb to some invading germs
and start sneezing or sniffling.