6 months ago today, this echinacea called me in with its brilliance. Right now, it’s still living and breathing underground, energy and beauty stored in its roots, all its glory turned inward, surviving, miraculously, like the rest of us. For the very lucky ones, July will come again and we will bloom radiantly. Also for the lucky: July has come and gone many times, and we have flowered for the world in big and small ways, and no passing of time or dying of roots will take that away. Repost from July 31st, 2018: Echinacea bracts are spiky, colorful, modified leaves that make up the hedgehog-like (or sea urchin-like) inflorescence that gives these plants their Greek-derived name. #echinos In the lower lefthand side, see the many perfect disc florets starting to bloom. The purple outer petals (not shown) are actually individual sterile ray florets, which seem to add the je ne sais quoi needed to attract the long-tongued bees and butterflies who can reach deep for the nectar from the small yellow florets, and carry pollen to the next (mostly) self-infertile flower. Echinacea is native to the many lands of eastern North America that drain eventually into the Atlantic Ocean. #plantmedicine #herbalmedicine #echinacea #echinaceapurpurea #purpleconeflower #rayflorets #discflorets #bracts #inflorescence #echinaceainflorescence https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUnJVHF1jU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19tlcgci7ynll
