“Balm for the BEES”

 These are perennial, coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden with shades of red, pink, purple and white. 

Bee balm plants prefer moist, rich soil, and a sunny location. Bee balm will tolerate shade, particularly in hot-summer areas. Plant it in any protected spot that would benefit from a bright shot of color. Most varieties of the bee balm plant are between 2 1/2 feet to 4 feet tall.

Pick your bee balm flowers frequently to encourage flower production,  removing spent flowers, will also promote a new flush of blooms.

This native plant was named for Nicholas Monardes a physician from Seville who wrote about new world pants in the publication

” Joyful News” in 1577

It was thought that this plant would soothe stings and bites from various insects ~ thus the common name BEEBALM. 

 A balm for bee stings, right in our own gardens WHO KNEW!

So when your BEEBALM begin to bloom later this month you will be in the know.

(flowers shown are from Harold Effinger’s 2020 Garden)