Summer Perennial Favorites ~ Bee Balm ~ Mondara

    The summer blooming perennials are calling your name… plant me! Here is my next favorite:

    My fourth favorite summer perennial is an herb, Bee Balm, Monarda. Growing 2’-4’ high on average it is member of the mint family and has its own unique fragrance when you rub its leaves. Any perennial that is a magnet for hummingbirds needs to be a must in your garden. It grows & spreads quickly as you would think any member of the mint family would. There will be plenty to share or it is very easy to control. They are prone to powdery mildew, so choose resistant varieties. Good air circulation is important so, like phlox you can thin these plants. You can also pinch for a bushier plant early in the season before the flower heads form. Also deadhead the spent blooms to encourage new blooms throughout the summer. Staking is not required because their stems are nice & sturdy. Choose at least one wonderful scarlet color to attract the hummers. I have red & a lower growing, shinier leaf purple. They will bloom their first year from transplants which is a plus.

   Enjoy the hummingbird antics!

Summer Perennial Favorites ~ Phlox Paniculata

    Happy Memorial Day! The summer blooming perennials are finding their way to the farm markets & flower centers now. I could see today when I was there, that it was bustling. Nothing like some warm weather with timely showers to get people-a-planting! Here is my next favorite:

    My third favorite summer perennial is Summer Phlox, P.paniculata. This 3’-4’ tall popular summer standard is a best pick for many reasons. Requiring only minimal staking, this phlox is a long-lived perennial and also a robust seeder so you will have many a volunteer, but in a controllable way. The extended bloom time of late June through October (sometimes November) makes it a must for any carefree cottage garden. I have a couple mildew resistant varieties, ‘Bright Eyes’ which is pink with dark magenta centers & ‘David’ which is white. Other colors include light purple & magenta. You can control mildew on any variety with a little early prevention. Simply thin your plants some by taking down a few stalks for better air circulation. You can also control height by taking them down a few inches now before flower heads start to form. These plants will need to be watered in any severe draught situation. (preferably in the morning so leaves can dry properly) Otherwise, they are fragrant, beautiful and a soft looking addition to your perennial back border or center to a circular garden.

    If you need any height to your garden plan, Phlox paniculata is a must!