Genus: Monarda

Members growing plants in this genus

  • Tussiemussie

    Tussiemussie

    joined 17 Jun, 2007

    45 plants

  • maxgarden

    Maxgarden

    joined 4 Dec, 2007

    68 plants

  • DiOhio

    Diohio

    joined 12 Mar, 2008

    216 plants

  • Sarah65

    Sarah65

    joined 15 Apr, 2008

    135 plants

  • Grammazoo

    Grammazoo

    joined 12 Feb, 2008

    114 plants

  • Caroline32

    Caroline32

    joined 27 Apr, 2008

    25 plants

  • dgardeningbabe

    Dgardeningb..

    joined 28 Apr, 2008

    17 plants

  • Gillian

    Gillian

    joined 21 Apr, 2008

    50 plants

Monarda photos

  • A garden flower photo (Monarda fistulosa (Beebalm))
    By colliwob..
  • Something's Not Right (Monarda fistulosa (Beebalm))
    By DiOhio
  • Monarda blooming (Monarda fistulosa (Beebalm))
    By DiOhio
  • Beautiful Even Before it Blooms (Monarda fistulosa (Beebalm))
    By DiOhio
  • Wild Bergamot close (Monarda fistulosa)
    By DiOhio
  • Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
    By DiOhio
  • fireworks!! (Monarda didyma (Bergamot))
    By Lori
  • Bergamont & Echinacea - August 2007 (Monarda didyma)
    By RobertR
  • Bergamont - August 2007 (Monarda didyma)
    By RobertR
  • Bergamot. (Monarda dydima)
    By Tussiemu..

more...

Comments:

brlpr2008

Brlpr2008

7 May, 2008

 

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

longlad

Longlad

6 May, 2008

 

as they say on little britain " I wont one"

flcrazy

Flcrazy

6 May, 2008

 

Great looking close up shot.!

RobertR

Robertr

6 May, 2008

 

Stunning shade!

patsy

Patsy

29 Apr, 2008

 

exsquisit

DiOhio

Diohio

3 Apr, 2008

 

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.

Grammazoo

Grammazoo

3 Apr, 2008

 

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.

Lori

Lori

3 Apr, 2008

 

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

DiOhio

Diohio

29 Mar, 2008

 

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 !

flcrazy

Flcrazy

29 Mar, 2008

 

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

DiOhio

Diohio

28 Mar, 2008

 

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?

Buzzbee

Buzzbee

28 Mar, 2008

 

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.

DiOhio

Diohio

28 Mar, 2008

 

Come on over ! All are welcome.

Sid

Sid

28 Mar, 2008

 

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)

jacque

Jacque

28 Mar, 2008

 

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

maple

Maple

13 Mar, 2008

 

Love the scent of Bergamot

Lori

Lori

1 Mar, 2008

 

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

majeekahead

Majeekahead

28 Feb, 2008

 

i really like the arbour did you make it yourself?

Tussiemussie

Tussiemussie

7 Jul, 2007

 

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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.