Monarda

I just love to say Monarda.  It is such a funny word.

The genus Monarda was named in honor of Nicolas Bautista Monardes, a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist. Indians living along the Oswego River in New York introduced early settlers to a tea made from dried bee balm. The settlers called it "Oswego tea" and began making it themselves. Oswego tea was popular with early colonists when tea became scarce after the Boston Tea Party.

Common Name:

Bee Balm, Wild Bergamont, Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Bergamont

The flowers of this aromatic herb are reminiscent of fireworks or a pompom, with the center bursting forth and the back petals radiating all around. Its flowers come in pink, red, mauve, purple and white and are particularly attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Today is Outdoor Wednesday. Please check out the others here. Thanks to Susan at a Southern Daydreamer.

Flower Bedroom

Here are a few photos of my flower beds.

Today is Bloomin' Tuesday! Please check out the others, thanks to Jean at MsGreen "thumb".

Baby House Finches

The nest of the house finch was made in a hanging petunia basket.

My friend, Tami, had a hard time watering this hanging basket. Her sweet nieces just loved the quick peek at the nest.

These babies are about to leave the nest.

Today is Outdoor Wednesday. Please check out the others here. Thanks to Susan at a Southern Daydreamer.

Some fun shots taken this week.

Double Columbine

Yellow Columbine

Perennial Geranium

Prairie Smoke

Baby Chickadees

Male Baltimore Oriole

Today is Outdoor Wednesday. Please check out the others here. Thanks to Susan at a Southern Daydreamer.

Oriental Poppies

Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale)

I have had a hard time growing these Oriental Poppies.  When people come and view my garden, they think these Oriental Poppies are thistles before they bloom. They will either pull them, before I have a chance to tell them they are a flower, or they will step on them.  I have been thinking about taking them out of my garden, because they look like weeds when they are not blooming.  I glad I didn't because I love the color this year.

Most Oriental poppies will reach a maximum height of about three feet while flowering. Unfortunately, their show is short-lived. Most of the time individual flowers last only a day or two.

Today is Mosaic Monday. Please check out the others here. Thanks to Mary at LittleRedHouse!

Baltimore Oriole's

 Female Baltimore Oriole

Male Baltimore Oriole

My dad made me this Oriole feeder.  I love it and so do the Oriole's.

Prairie Smoke

Prairie smoke, geum triflorum, is a common wild flower found in North America. Also known by the names old man's whiskers, purple or red avens or three-flowered avens.  It gets its name from the seed heads that have a smoky or wispy appearance.

I just love its danty flower.  The flower head is less than an inch long.

To learn more about this plant check out this great Minnesota Wildflower Website here.