Flower for the Day Monarda 7-14-21

Monarda is a native wild flower in the mint family and is endemic to North America. Common names include bee balm, bergamot and oswego tea. The genus was named by Spanish botanist Nicolas Monarde in his 1574 book describing plants of the New World. Here are some early flowers.

The flowers are tubular and bilaterally symmetric, with a narrow upper lip and a wider lower lip. The wild flowers are single. They are hermaphroditic, with male and female structures in each flower. 

Kiss of a Tulip

kiss of a tulip

lavender and bee balm too 

garden winked her song

Carol Krutsinger, 2020