For the bees…

March’s unpredictable weather has us gardeners struggling to decide what and when we should begin planting.  If you’re anything like me, you’ve fallen victim to your optimism more than once with a March garden.  Just this week the weather has blessed us with tank top weather AND a light frost.  Although the weather is unpredictable for outside work, it’s still a great time to get those seeds started inside or in your greenhouse.  One of the plants that I have enjoyed starting this year is bee balm.  Most of us in the south either have this plant already growing in our flower bed or have seen it at our neighbor’s house. It is a hardy perennial in the mint family that loves our weather and soil.  And with a little cold stratification, the seeds can be easy to germinate. Because of our high humidity in the south, these plants are susceptible to powdery mildew and can benefit from a proactive fungicide treatment.  This can help ensure a healthy plant and pristine leaves and flowers that are ready for use when harvesting time comes.  The flowers of this plant range from red to light pink to a beautiful speckled white and pink variety.  Deadheading spent blooms throughout the summer can help prolong your enjoyment of these beautiful flowers. To keep your plants as healthy as possible, divide your bee balm clumps every 2-3 years.  Bee balm, also called monarda, bergamot, Oswego tea, and horsemint, blooms in the summer Our bee balm is usually so blanketed with bees when in bloom the flowers are completely hidden.   The leaves and flowers are commonly used in tea. It was actually first introduced to the American colonists during the Boston Tea Party by the Oswego Indians and became a very popular beverage.1 Through the years, bee balm tea has been used to help soothe the digestive tract and calm fevers and coughs, specifically relating to viral infections.  Topically it can be used as a poultice to address burns, wounds, and insect bites.2  Overall, bee balm is an easy to grow, useful plant that adds beauty and function to any garden or flower bed.  Stay optimistic this month as you continue to plan your gardens and seeds begin to emerge.  We will soon be able to work the soil and plant those much-anticipated herbs and medicinal flowers.

Happy Seeding,

Jessica

1.https://www.britannica.com/plant/Oswego-tea

2. https://www.acornherbschool.com/bee-balm-monarda