#Native Bee Balm

What the heck do you do with… that Bee Balm (or Bergamot) you grew?? 🌿 1) Ideally it’s native (Monarda fistulosa or Monarda didyma) so you leave as much as possible for the native species eagerly searching for native foods. 🌿 2) you take a bit for yourself for the PERFECT sinus steam herb. Watch to learn how to do it :)) 🌿 So… what is all this chatter about native plant species in our yards? 🐝 Basically, we are rapidly losing biodiversity which is basically life on this planet. 🐛 Our local creatures have evolved alongside our native plant species for centuries and have adapted to thrive only on these native plants. 🐞 Them trying to eat invasive plant species can be fatal to them or at minimum, kind of like us eating cardboard. Yes, we technically can eat it, but our bodies can’t use it for food. 🦋 It’s up to us to be adaptable and change what we think landscaping is. Isn’t that what makes human intelligent? Learning and adapting to the lessons- so let’s do that y’all!!!! #beebalm #monarda #bergamot #nativeplants #wildyard #herbalism #wildfamilyherbalist #kinfolkherbalism #highgardentea #herbal #nativeplants #conservenativeplants #nativeplantmedicine #plantnatives #herbalife

Bee balm, lemon mint, wild bergamot, monarda—Or, Dr. Seuss flower, if you’re one of my clients! Whichever name you prefer, it’s one of the best pollinator perennials you can grow in your garden. Monarda naturally spreads throughout the garden, but it’s easily tamed by transplanting clumps elsewhere. Bee balm grows to 36”-48”, and I often use it for vertical interest and as a spike flower in the trifecta planting formula. Once it flowers, deadhead the blooms to encourage a second flush in later summer. Or, cut it back to the ground. Since it gets tall and airy, underplant with ground cover to fill in gaps. Try a speedwell, creeping phlox, or clover. This first clip features raspberry monarda, and it really pops compared to the purple variety. Which one do you prefer? #figmentcottagegardens #marylandcottagegardens #monarda #pollinatorgarden #gardenideas #flowerguide #flowergardens #flowergarden #pollinatorflowers #cottagegarden #cottagegardenflowers #cottagegardenplants

A tip from the medicine garden: use a berry picker to harvest your chamomile when your flowers are ready. Quick and easy harvest for tea or baking. 🌼✨

😍 My Bee Balm is coming up! I’m so excited to be able to harvest more for herbal teas and the fabulous London Fog Jelly and Lozenges. #beebalm #monarda

It’s true that too few of our plants are known by their Native American names, even though they were used for food and medicine long before European settlers arrived. Scarlet bee balm has been used by Native American communities—particularly the Oswego and Oneida Nations—in herbal preparations for centuries. Monarda didyma, also known as scarlet bee balm, is a perennial herb native to the Appalachian Mountains and eastern North America. The Oneida Nation, recognizing its antiseptic properties, used bee balm tea to soothe fevers, headaches, and stomachaches. The Oswego people brewed tea from monarda and shared its benefits with European settlers. It is generally believed that after the Boston Tea Party caused a shortage of imported tea in America, Oswego tea became a widely used substitute. The name Monarda honors Nicolás Bautista Monardes, a Spanish physician who had a keen interest in the medicinal plants of the New World—an especially fitting tribute. What you’ll need: • 16 ounces of water • Fresh beebalm flower heads (we used 7 for this preparation) • A vessel for steeping tea What you’ll do: • Boil the water before prepping the flower heads. Let it cool slightly before steeping—if it’s too hot, you’ll lose some of the flavor. • Snip the fully bloomed flower heads from the plant, then gently pull each petal from the flower center. • Steep for 15–20 minutes. Flavor as desired (we love raw honey), and enjoy. This tea tastes as delicious as it smells—a delightful mix of citrus and mint. Comment TEA and I’ll send you the link to this beautiful glass tea mug. I love it. Keep growing. I believe in you. 🌿 • • • • • • • • #organicgardening #mygarden #garden #gardensofinstagram #instagarden #victorygarden #virginiagardens #backyardgarden #frontyardgarden #ediblegarden #urbangarden #urbanorchard #pollinatorgarden #zone7garden #zone7 #zone7gardening #richmond #growyourown #growfood #growingvegetables #growfoodnotlawns #homegrownfood #homegrown #fromgardentotable #womenwhogarden #womengardenersofinstagram #virginiagardener #epicgardening

Bee Balm or Wild Bergamont 🌿 ( Monarda sp.) is a beautiful native perennial. 🌺 It is in the mint family and is amazing for the bees and ecosystem! It grows wild throughout mid-late summer in unruly areas, ditches and fields, but it can also be a lovely addition to your native perennial garden 🌺 It’s fragrance is noticeably similar to oregano and thyme. It has a spicy, bright , herbal scent and flavor! It contains ‘thymol’ which is the monoterpene found in the volatile oil of many plants- like thyme and oregano! It is naturally disinfectant and anti-fungal. Medically, bee balm has been used for fevers, colds/flus and infections and is tasty as a tea. The leaves and blooms are edible as well! It’s an ingredient in one of my smoked sea salts (Fireside) it makes a nice seasoning for drinks and dishes, a very tasty infused oil or vinegar. #beebalm #wildflowers #nativeflowers #nativeplants #savethebees #nativegarden #nativeperennials #beefood #beebalm #medicinalflowers #oregano #thyme #thymol #wildedibles #edibleflowers #medicinalplants #mintfamily

One of my all-time favorite hummingbird-attracting flowers is Bee Balm, also known as Monarda. It’s native to North America and plays an important role in helping hummingbirds have a successful nesting season in summer. It’s also deer resistant, thanks to its strong minty scent that most deer avoid. 🌺 The red flower featured here is Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline.’ Join me as I continue adding more Reels to this series. Thanks for being here. #BeeBalm #MonardaDidyma #HummingbirdGarden #NativePlants #PollinatorFriendly #Hummingbirds #BirdingByEar #WildflowerGarden #JacobCline #GardenForWildlife

Bee Balm or Monarda is in the mint family, but don’t let that scare you away! Bee Balm is not invasive like non-native mints that you’ve probably heard about or dealt with yourself. And, because of their (pleasantly) scented leaves, deer tend to avoid them. Pollinators absolutely love Bee Balm and we love them too because they are gorgeous in the garden and easy to grow when planted in the right location! Which of these four Bee Balm do you like the best? Let us know⤵️🌱🌸 #myhomepark #nativeplants #beebalm #monarda #perennials #bee #pollinators #hummingbirds

Bee balm 🐝 also known as Monarda is native to North America but this is the first year that I’ve grown it. I love it adds layers to my garden (put it in the back bc it gets pretty tall) and the color is so beautiful! 😍 Bee balm is a wonderful plant that has many medicinal benefits! 1. Antimicrobial: it has active compounds such as thymol and carvacrol which help to inhibit the growth of pathogens 2. Carminative: it acts as a digestive aid by helping to relieve gastrointestinal issues and is shown to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes 3. Anti-inflammatory: rosmarinic acid gives Bee balm it’s anti-inflammatory properties and is traditionally used to help relieve arthritis, swelling and pain 4. Bronchial support: it can also be used to help relieve respiratory issues and clear airways to reduce discomfort 5. Stress relief: Bee balm contains aromatic properties that can be very relaxing especially when added to tea or bathwater 🛀 Both leaves and flowers can be added to tea with a little bit of honey for taste. 🫖 You can also dry the leaves and flowers and infuse into oil to make a soothing antimicrobial oil. For more herbal education follow @alongthemeadow and check out the link in my bio! 🌿 • • • #herbalist #herbgardening #beebalm

It’s so cute 🥰 #hummingbird #nativeplants #nativeflowers #blueberries #hummingbirdmoth #moth

Bee balm is the firework of the herb world, blooming with its whole heart in the most cheerful hues. The aroma is intoxicating and attracts all kinds of pollinators to the garden. 🎆 Bee balm is an important traditional medicine of many Native American tribes. Its leaves and flowers are often used to alleviate flu symptoms such as fevers, coughs, and respiratory congestion. It’s also a great remedy for gas, bloating, and other digestive upsets. Its mild sedative effects make it a great tea to drink before bed. 🎆 You won’t easily find the dried herb or tincture for sale. This means, to experience bee balm as a food or medicine, you’ll need to forage it or grow your own.  🎆 To learn more about bee balm and other enchanting medicinal plants, take a peek at our 1,000 hour Online Herbal Immersion Program. Find details through the link in our bio. . (Monarda spp., Lamiaceae) Videos © Juliet Blankespoor . *Please research any new herb and consult your health care providers for possible drug/herb contraindications and precautions before ingesting. Be sure of your identification before ingesting any plant or mushroom. . #herbalist #herbalism #herbalmedicine #beebalm #monarda