Did you know you could use beebalm flowers as a cut flower? I am always learning new things. Here is how to grow them.

image from pinterest.com 

Good morning, what a change we are having.  I opened windows as the humidity is down. I even put on a shirt to cover my shoulders as it is a little drafty.  Cloudy this morning, then the sun will be out.  Perfect June day, I am thinking.  BUT it will not last long.  Saturday they are saying it is going to be hot and humid again.  So, enjoy today and be outside if you can.  Stay safe and enjoy the weather today.
 
Remember I am closed on Saturday, Sunday June 28, 29th for our 50th wedding anniversary.  The kids have our weekend planned as Jennifer is home from Wyoming.  It will be a family celebration.  I will be back open on Monday through Thursday.  Plants are on sale; plants look awesome for those spots you need to get some more color.  Come and get those for the 4th of July celebrations. 

Australia family and friends will have clear conditions for their Saturday June 28 with a high of 56F(14C)  It looks like their Sunday will have rain. Stay warm, stay safe.

I just learned something about bee balm.  It can be used as a cut flower.  It will last 7 days.  That is what I am looking for.  Cut flowers to enjoy and pass along.  Here is more about bee balm.  Also good for bees, and hummingbirds.  Yes, I have bee balm here for sale.  Imagine that.  

Bee balm is a native perennial that flowers in summertime. This plant is beloved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies! a great addition to a pollinator garden.
About Bee Balm
Bee balm (Monarda spp.), also called wild bergamot, is known for its attractive scarlet flowers that bloom in the summertime and its fragrant foliage. In June and July, slender, tubular flowers are produced in 2- to 3-inch–wide flower heads. Flower colors include white, pink, red, lavender, and purple.
 In the garden, its most frequent visitors are hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies because they have the long tongues required to reach the tubular flowers’ nectar. Bumblebees and a few other insects are too big to get into some of the smaller tubular flowers of some bee balms, so the insects practice something called “nectar robbing.” The insects punch a tiny hole at the base of the flower to access the nectar, bypassing the flower’s pollen and “robbing” it of its nectar
The seed heads also attract birds in the fall and winter. Learn more about plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Given its height (2–4 feet), bee balm makes for an excellent background plant in a flower bed. Consider it as part of a pollinator garden!
Planting
Bee balm performs best in full sun (at least 6 hours). It will grow in partial shade but won’t flower as well and is more susceptible to powdery mildew. Provide moist, well-draining soil with a neutral pH. Amend soil with compost or aged manure, if necessary.
When to Plant Bee Balm
Bee balm can be planted in the spring or in the fall.
Spring is the best time to divide existing plants and transplant them.
How to Plant Bee Balm
Give careful thought to placement. Without good air circulation, the leaves can develop powdery mildew, a fungal disease. (Reduce watering if this appears.) Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
Water thoroughly at the time of planting.
Growing
Keep soil evenly moist throughout the growing season, watering every 7 to 10 days during dry periods. Soak to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Add mulch to preserve moisture and control weeds.
Avoid fertilizer in general; apply only a sprinkling of a balanced product in spring, if desired. An excess can promote rampant leaf growth and powdery mildew.
Deadhead faded blooms to encourage the plant to re-bloom in late summer. Deadheading the main stem allows the side shoots to develop and bloom. These, too, can be cut when flowers reach the size you want.
After the first frost in the fall, leave seed heads for the birds or cut stems back to about 2 inches above the soil. (See local frost dates.)
Divide every 2 to 3 years to ensure its vigor. (Clumps tend to die out from the center.)
Harvesting
Bee balm is a lovely cut flower. The leaves are aromatic, which adds interest to an indoor arrangement. Cut the main stem flower just as it begins to open up. The plant’s side shoots will continue to develop and bloom. The side shoots can be cut for indoor enjoyment, too. Its vase life is 7 days.
taken from  Bee Balm Flowers: Planting, Growing, and Caring for Bee Balm
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365 beckysgreenhouse.com Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse