The Common Cold!

Echinacea
Neatly tucked away are the pink petals that make this perennial so recognizable. About to bloom any day now they stand strong and tall. If you look really close, you will see a tiny pink spider towards the left forefront. More than just a pretty flower, echinacea has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. 
"Results of archeological digs indicate 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. Although this herb was popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, its use began to decline in the United States after the introduction of antibiotics."~google search~ 
Now I'm not recommending that anyone start making a tea or tincture from these lovelies, but I do know that people still take it today to shorten the duration of the common cold. 
They grow here in New England in clumps, seem to propagate easily, if they love the sunny spot they are in. 
When they pass, grab a handful of the dried heads, crumple them up  and scatter the seeds about. Rake them into the soil a little and sure enough they will grace any garden, proudly, the following season. Can't wait to capture their wispy nature when they are in full bloom. In the meantime I hope you enjoy this wonderful tease. Have a great day!