Genus: Monarda

Is most of your garden in the sun?.......so pretty......smiles

as they say on little britain " I wont one"

Great looking close up shot.!

Stunning shade!

exsquisit

Grammazoo, just keep your feeders out, clean and fresh, and they should return every year. They must eat every few minutes during the day to keep their little bodies going, or else they'll die. So they need a reliable source of food where they nest. And yes, they are quite noisy and very bold for their tiny size. Durinig the summer my yard sounds like it's full of little squeaky dog toys ! And something I've been wanting to try......after you have your regulars for the summer, take in all of the nectar feeders and sit holding a cup of nectar or a feeder. I've seen pics of many people that get them to eat from their hand ! They're not shy at all.

Lori, the "Pendulum Dance" is part of a male's courting ritual. Just imatine a huge "U" in the air......that's the flight pattern of the male. He'll go back and forth like a pendulum, usually right in front of a female that's sitting, watching from a tree branch. They're real show-offs ! I got lucky last summer and managed to video part of the dance.

Just started getting these birds as regulars last year; before that it was only one now and again. Last year there were about half a dozen at a time at the feeders, so I hope they return again this spring! I haven't seen this flight pattern yet buy I have watched them chase each other out of the area and was surprized at how vocal these little guys are. Up until then I thought it was really just the wing noise that would announce their presence. They are quite bold for their wee size aren't they? My presence on the porch doesn't keep them from visiting the feeders as it does for a lot of the larger birds.

Always dropping the tidbit...ok I'll bite...what's the pendulum ritual?

Yes they are territorial and try like heck to guard a favorite feeder or flower. But imaging 40-50 doing that in one back yard ! It is like Grand Central Station back there and not unusual for one or two to be constantly zippying past your ear or face. I'm just glad they have excellent navigation ! They'll often body-slam each other. And in the spring after the females start arriving, the males will do their pendulum courting ritual. That's a riot !

Another fantastic shot, Diohio. The hummers are great fun to watch and very territorial too.

It is like magic watching the hummingbirds Buzzbee. I wish you could have the experience. I didn't know, before GOY, that no hummers were in the UK. Is that true for all of Europe, and Asia too?

What a beautiful picture - we all grow so many plants in Britain that humming birds love and yet are deprived of the birds - it must be magic to see.

Come on over ! All are welcome.

I say we all hop on a plane and visit Di's garden to see all these lovely plants and wildlife! (tho maybe not use Heathrow's new terminal...ha ha)

Hehehe looks like the humming birds wearing a Hat of Leafs lol:)

Love the scent of Bergamot

Yes it's mine. warts and all. haha.

i really like the arbour did you make it yourself?

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Bergamot
Monarda dydimaBergamot, Monarda dydima
Bergamot is an excellent ornamental and culinary herb, and belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.

A hardy perennial, it produces loose whorls of showy flowers around the square stems, borne above the leaves. Flowers are normally red, but many forms and cultivars have been developed with flowers in shades of pink, purple or white. It reaches about 90 cm in height, and flowers from mid summer to early autumn. The whole plant is fragrant, especially the young leaves.

Bergamot is a native to eastern North America. Seeds collected from the shores of Lake Oswego were sent to England in the 18th century and sold in London's Covent Garden market as 'Oswego Tea'. Bee balm is a popular name in the USA, because the flowers are rich in nectar and very attractive to bees, (and butterflies), something that is no less evident in this country. Medicinally, it was used by Native American tribes, and is still valuable as a remedy for bronchial infections, sore throats, colds and flu.

Growing
Bergamot thrives in moisture retentive soil, in full or partial sun. Propagate established plants by division in either autumn or spring, or by separating and replanting portions of the creeping roots. Older clumps benefit from being lifted and replanted every 3-4 years to prevent growth from deteriorating. Discard the central part of the clump, and divide the remainder into 3 or 4 pieces. Replenish the soil before replanting, adding leaf mould or compost as when first preparing the soil
Both flowers and leaves are used, the leaves having a slightly more 'savoury' flavour. Use in fruit salads and drinks, for tea and in soups, jams and jellies. To flavour black tea, add one tablespoon of fresh bergamot flowers to a small pot of good quality black tea and leave to infuse for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, use the flowers and leaves on their own.
The flavour of bergamot goes well with fruit such as pineapple, mango and orange, as well as being good with savoury dishes and in salads. Both flowers and leaves can be dried for culinary use, but the flavour is much better when used fresh.
The flowers and leaves are good in pot pourri mixtures when dried. Bergamot also makes good cut flowers, or can be dried whole for decoration. To do this, cut the stems just as the flowers are about to open. Remove the lower leaves, gather into small bunches and hang them upside down in a dark, airy place to dry.