Monarda Love & the Goldenrod of Fall
No - that is NOT powdery mildew, that is the first blooms coming on Native Monarda Punctata: Spotted Bee Balm.
Like all Bee Balms, part of the mint family, so once settled - it reaaaalllly grows for it. These our my first blooms, I have never seen an adult plant before, and what a pretty, pretty plant.
We are on the far west edge of its native range. Once established it will grow 1-3 feet tall, spread to fill available space almost like a shrub, & the blooms eventually get to a pretty pink shade.
It made its debut in the cut flowers on Saturday for Porter Harvestfest & it’ll be in this weeks bouquets for Canby & Hendricks. Make sure you come by & see it - I’ll be offering it to you for your dirt next season.
And… the Goldenrod says it is time to be thinking Oxymel & final planting:
Goldenrod is one of those weather plants and their blooms say: first frost likely about 6 weeks out.
Time to get planting what you were hoping to add this fall for the growth next year AND pick up your good local honey & apple cider vinegar, get those plastic caps out, for fresh Oxymel for Winter.
I have one round of special orders open left that will be available for Sat afternoon park pickup or local delivery (no extra charge of course - its not your fault I don’t have an established store front 😜 happy to bring to you so you don’t have to worry about transport damage).
This is the time to reach out if you were looking for something you haven’t found and would like me to get to the community or if you need some of those beautiful Coney’s in your life.
My last orange on hand:
Oh those pretty, happy roots!!
We only reliably have about 4 weeks to comfortably settle new plants, & then I’d recommend marking any further adds for Spring watering and getting those seeds & bulbs out.
I am of course in search of University of Minnesota Mammoth Mums, but no update yet. I am hoping when I get to the wholesaler for special order pickup that they have at least a few. This time of year their inventory lists can be unreliable.
Happy last days of Summer, as we slide across the line to Fall.
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