When I was so much younger than today, I used to jump into
projects two feet forward, head a little behind. The purple
coneflowers that are rising so regally in this hot, dry summer
remind me of one of those days. The purple coneflower, or
echinacea purpurea, was one of the few hardy, robust, blooming
plants in my small, neglected garden when I read an article
about how powerful the it is at boosting the immune system. Ever
the Earth Mother, I dug up a giant clump and took the roots for
a tonic. I followed the recipe and let the roots sit in an
alcohol-based concoction for six months, after which I drained
the liquid. The only problem was that none of my children or my
husband would go near the muddy, foul-smelling tonic. Only later
did I learn how to properly wash and cut up the roots. Medicinal
lore is only one of the reasons that the purple coneflower is
one of our most popular native wildflowers. It gives in so many
ways. Drought tolerant, it provides a show during hot, dry
summers and blooms longer than