1. Years ago when my son – then about 4 years of age – was having a violent fit of whooping cough an old lady stopped and asked if I had any chives in my garden. She told me to make some bread and butter sandwiches, filling them with chopped chives, and make him eat some after each fit of coughing, and he would be well in four days. I did as bid, and my son was well, as she said [Uphill, Somerset, January 1993].

Image: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames; May 2014.