Bee Balm

[Siwsan]

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. What a pretty flower! And I love the brilliant pink color too. Thanks for sharing. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I love Monarda.

It's all over my garden (it's pretty aggressive) and just starting to bloom now. The bees really do love it.

[Siwsan]

3. This house has so many flower beds, I decided to fill some with BIG perennials.

I've reduced a few of the biggest ones but some were constructed in a way that makes reducing them very difficult. So, in the Spring there are lots of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinth and Narcissus. In the Summer I have Peony, Hydrangea and Bee Balm taking up space. Also lots of Larkspur and Bachelor Buttons and random wild flowers. There is no rhyme or reason to most of the blooms. I call it chaotic beauty.

And, right now a whole lot of very healthy looking garlic is spread throughout the flower beds. I'll be harvesting that within the next two weeks, or so.

[cyclonefence]

4. Gorgeous

but so invasive. Watch out!

Your garden photos, both floral and faunal (?--you know what I mean: beautiful bugs) are always stunning, and it's clear you know what you're doing, but I worry that someone less experienced than you will plant monarda someplace where it can't be controlled. It's a mint, and it *will* take over!

[Siwsan]

5. Fortunately it's in a garden that's enclosed by a concrete walkway. So far it's contained

If it would fill in THAT garden, that would be just fine. It's filled with Spring bulb plants so by the time the Bee Balm is up, the Daffs, Tulips, Hyacinth, etc, are well done.

I am slowly but surely filling my flower beds with perennial plants.

My biggest invasive "problem" is garlic, and that's an invasive problem I don't mind. I'll be harvesting it soon and it looks like this year will be a (hopefully) very robust crop.

[Callalily]

6. I used to grow this! Beautiful flower, beautiful photo.