Bee Balm, both Monarda fistulosa and Monarda didyma, is an herb grown for it's scent, it's color and it's usefulness. M. fistulosa is the lavender colored wild bergamot which grows often in open airy fields, has flowers that attract bees and it's flavor is sharper and a little more minty than M. didyma. This is the variety known as bee balm and it's scarlet blooms are a little longer and do attract hummingbirds, but the bees have trouble getting nectar from the tubular blooms. Wild bergamot is also known as horse-mint and Oswego tea. It was used by the Native Americans as a tea, as a flavoring and also medicinally for stomach and bronchial ailments.

You'll also find other varieties of Monarda available now, and all are edible. Monarda needs good air circulation and doesn't generally do well when crowded. If it is allowed to dry out and is in a crowded bed it will most likely come down with mildew. When choosing a location make sure it has its own space that will be kept fairly moist. My first year planting it I grew it with Bachelor Buttons, which overcrowded it and the entire plant contracted mildew. I cut all the infected stems off and the next year it came back and doubled in size.

Deadhead the first blooms and you'll get another bloom out it towards autumn. This is easy to do since the blooms and leaves can be used for tea either fresh or dried. Tear apart the blooms, removing any green parts, and use these and the small leaves to salad. Save the older, larger leaves for tea. Hang in bunches to dry or place on screens out of the sun. Add a leaf to a cup of black tea when brewing for a nice flavor.

Bee Balm can be added to fruit salads, pork recipes, punches and other beverage recipes plus it can be substituted for mint.

From Brenda Hyde, owner of Old Fashioned Living.com. Visit her for more tips, recipes and crafts. Sign up for her free newsletters here: http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/news.html