Echinacea is amazing as an immune booster. I used to swim competitively and got ear infections all the time. Once I found out about echinacea, I started the habit of putting a few drops of the tincture in my sports bottle so I was always drinking it whenever I rehydrated, and it must have helped my immune system because those infections went away altogether! I don't swim any longer but always keep a bottle of it in the house for when I've been exposed to germs from other people. It took me a while to get used to the taste, but now I find it quite pleasant. Hope it works for you!
Oh and the flowers are really pretty. I don't have a garden or I'd love to grow some. :)