Flower of the Day - Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm

Name: Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot

Latin Name: Monarda sp.

Plant Type: Perennial, zone 3-9

Blooming Time: Summer

Blossom Color: Red,pink, blue

Height: Up to 48 inches

Plant Spacing: 2-3 Feet

Special Care Instructions:

Full sun to part sun

Sand to clay

Dry to medium water

Wild Bergamot spreads vigorously. You will have to spend a bit of time in spring pulling out the stems that grow underneath the soil surface.

Deadhead flowers to prolong summer bloom.

Tends to self-seed.

Fun Facts:

Hummingbirds, butterflies and larger bees with long tongues.

Wild bergamot, or Monarda fistulosa, is known as bee balm.

 This perennial herb is a member of the mint family.

It has been used in medicines and foods in the United States for hundreds of years. HistoryWild bergamot was widely used by Native Americans. The Ojibwe tribe dried and boiled the entire plant to extract its oils, which they used to treat bronchial troubles. They also chewed the leaves and placed the chewed wad inside their nostrils as a remedy for headache. The Tewa found the herb flavorful and cooked it with meat, while the Iroquois used it as a beverage ingredient.

Flower of the Day - Beard Tongue and Beard Tongue Red Huskers

This post is about two different types of the same plant bread.  It was just easier in one post.

The one Beard Tongue flower looks like a normal foliage-colored plant, with green leaves.  The other species has red foliage and it's Latin name (Penstemon digitalis) actually means "Husker Red".

Name: Beard Tongue

Latin Name: Penstemon, Penstemon digitalis

Below: Beard Tongue (Penstemon)

Below: Beard Tongue "Red Huskers", (Penstemon digitalis)

Plant Type: Perennial, zone 3-8

Blooming Time: Summer

Blossom Color: Large array of colors (Penstemon), Very pale pink (Penstemon digitalis)

Height: 29-35 inches

Plant Spacing: 12-18 inches

Special Care Instructions:

Full Sun

Normal, Sandy or Clay Soil

Neutral, Alkaline or Acid Ph soil

Average or Moist Soil

Fun Facts:

The Penstemon digitalis species of Beard Tongue flower has Red Foliage.

Flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees.

Rabbit Resistant

Flower of the Day - Basket of Gold

Name: Basket of gold

Latin Name: Aurinia saxatilis

Plant Type: Perennial, zone 4-7

Blooming Time: Late spring-early summer

Blossom Color: Golden Yellow

Height: 8-12"

Plant Spacing: 12-15"

Below are some pictures of Basket of Gold growing in or edging rocks

Special Care Instructions:

Perennials can be planted anytime from spring through fall.

Low to moderate water requirement, allow soil to dry between thorough watering

 Full sun to partial shade

Fun Facts:

Low-growing, spreading perennial that produces a profuse spring bloom of bright yellow flowers that are particularly attractive in rock gardens, sprawled over rocks or cascaded over rock walls. After bloom, it will remain in the garden as an attractive ground cover

Aurinia meaning golden and saxatilis meaning found among rocks.

Synonymous with and formerly known as Alyssum saxatile

Additional common names include yellow alyssum, madwort, goldentuft and gold-dust

Flower of the Day - Bamboo Orchid

Name: Bamboo orchid

Latin Name: Arundina graminifolia

Plant Type: Tropical plant, zone 10-11

Blooming Time: Summer-Fall

Blossom Color: Colors from White to Pink to Purple

Height: The 4-6 inch leaves grow on stems that can reach in excess of 8 feet tall when grown outdoors. Indoor plants typically reach four to six feet in height.

Special Care Instructions:

When planting a Bamboo Orchid outdoors, select a site that receives full sun for best flowering results. The plant is adaptable to partial shade, but flowering will be reduced. The Bamboo Orchid likes a perpetually moist soil, though it must be free of standing water. For indoors growth, the Bamboo Orchid requires more humidity than the typical home offers. This can be accomplished using an indoor humidifier, vaporizer, or mister. You can also try setting the plant on a humidity tray, which is essentially a low pan filled with ornamental rocks and water. In addition to the humidity, regular watering is essential to keep the soil moist.

Flower of the Day - Chinese Bellflower

Name: Balloon flower, Chinese Bellflower

Latin Name: Platycodon grandiflorus

Plant Type: Perennial, zone 3-9

Blooming Time: Summer

Blossom Color: Blue

Height: 1/2 to 1 ft.

Plant Spacing: 1 to 1 ½  ft.

Special Care Instructions:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Division and transplanting are possible but tricky because of the stringy root system, and it may be best to leave the plants undisturbed.

Fun Facts:

This balloon flower cultivar is a dwarf selection that typically grows to only 6-12" tall. Features unique, puffy flower buds shaped like hot air balloons which open into 3" diameter, single, blue, upward-facing, bell-shaped flowers with five pointed lobes. Oval, dentate leaves to 3" long.

 Blooms most of the summer.