What can I plant for the bees? Here is one new plant to the market. Mountain Mint

What can I plant for the bees?  How about Mountain mint?  New to the gardening market.  

Good morning, almost noon, so I better get this written.  Warm morning, partly cloudy skies with a little breeze.  I would like more of a breeze but not up to me.  Stay cool, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends will have 62F(16C) compared to our 27C.  They are to have rain and wind.  So it will be a cool Saturday for them May 31st.  Stay warm, stay safe.
 
In my weekly newsletter I hand out, I am doing about plants that bees like.  Here is one of them.  It is a new one in the market for bees, and you might not have heard of it.  Mountain Mint You can see we have it here at Becky’s Greenhouse.

Planting and Growing Mountain Mint: A Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant
If you think all mints are created equal, think again. While many mint plants are invasive growers, mountain mint is a less aggressive, native plant that’s irresistible to pollinators, pretty as a picture, and edible too. Here’s how to like to use mountain mint in our garden, plus growing and harvesting tips to help you get the very most out of this mint-teresting plant!
 For most of the growing season, mountain mint is enjoyed purely for its leaves and for the fresh, minty scent those leaves emit when crushed. But this late bloomer has more in store and gets even prettier when it produces clusters of white or purple flowers in late summer, which pollinators flock to.
 u can grow mountain mint from nursery starts or seeds, but nursery-started plants will bloom earlier. If you want to grow mountain mint varieties that are native to cold areas, you’ll get better germination results by cold stratifying the seeds before planting. However, this treatment is not necessary for mountain mint seeds that are native to warmer locations!
Full-sun locations are best for mountain mint and encourage these plants to bloom their best. You can grow these plants in partial shade as well, but they won’t flower as prolifically.
You can grow mountain mint in drifts your flower beds along with other native plants, such as boneset, buttonbush, and blue vervain. Mountain mint is edible, and it can be grown in herb or medicinal gardens if that suits your fancy. Both the leaves and flowers of these plants can be harvested and used like standard mints in savory or sweet dishes, cocktails, and hot or cold teas!
Mountain mint is right at home in native plant and pollinator beds, herb and cottage gardens, and larger wildflower meadows. However, because these plants can grow quickly and spread, some gardeners may want to keep them in containers or raised beds that limit their growth.
Mountain mint can tolerate a range of soil types as long as they’re well-draining and don’t stay soggy for long. These plants should be watered once a week immediately after planting, but established plants are drought tolerant and may not need any supplemental watering. If you do decide to water mountain mint, only water your plants when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feel dry.
For the most part, mountain mint doesn’t need any pruning, but you can prune your plants’ roots with a spade if they’re spreading into areas where you don’t want them to be. If you do decide to prune the upper sections of mountain mint plants, avoid doing it when they are in bloom. These native plants have a long flowering season that stretches from mid-summer into fall, and they provide an important food source for bees and other pollinators while they’re blooming.
These plants are very cold-tolerant and should survive winters in Zones 3 and warmer without any cold protection. I still like to add mulch around the base of my mountain mint plants, though!
Mountain mint leaves and flowers are edible and can be used like standard mints in recipes or blended into homemade potpourri. For peak flavor, pick the leaves and flowers in late summer to early fall, and be sure to leave plenty of flowers in place for pollinators like bees.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/mountain-mint
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