The instinct is to cut bee balm to the ground with their dead flowers and powdery mildew riddled leaves.
But I don’t.
I let them die with grace.
I like the flower petals strewn throughout the garden.
But most importantly, I love me some spent Monarda (Bee Balm) blooms in front of the ornamental grasses providing that much sought after fall and winter interest.
Some of the Narcissus (Daffodils) are in bloom now, no doubt pushed by the 80 degree temps we had here in New Jersey yesterday.
Viburnum carlesii.
The tiny Muscari.
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea).
Daffodils that will hide the recently cut down ornamental grass.
More daffodils, ‘Kokopelli’, on the way.
This is Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ or False Spirea. Say that 5 times fast.
I get a lot of anxiety in early spring, fearful of what plants didn’t survive the winter. While this pic of Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’ may mean little to you, it means the world to me. I’m so thankful to have her back for another year considering I recklessly moved her around three times last summer.
This is the plant I’m most excited to watch progress this year. It’s Filipendula rubra (Queen of the Prairie). This will be its third year in my garden and I hope it can reach upwards of 6 feet in height with plenty of pale pink flowers in summer.
This is Diervilla sessilifolia (Southern Bush Honeysuckle) with its variegated foliage emerging over a mass of Bee Balm rosettes. This combo should be killer by early summer.
Baptisia is here, yeah. So are the weeds, boo.
I like to sing the praises of Bee Balm (Monarda) and its agressive nature, but this spring they have marched into enemy territory. Enemy territory being other perennials. Here it is challenging Heuchera (Coral Bells). I think we know who will win.
I am way excited to see that tulips have, knock on wood, survived the winter and appear ready to bloom. Even better is the fact that this small ornamental grass will strategically cover the decaying tulip foliage as it gets larger with the warmer temps. Hopefully by allowing the tulip foliage to decay, it will energize the bulbs and provide a repeat display of flowering next spring.
I’m totally cool with the Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake) expanding its colony even if it’s underneath this evergreen shrub. I say “evergreen shrub” because I can’t recall the name even after a search through my garden archives.
Finally, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t bring myself to cut down this pairing. I’ve loved it all fall and winter and can’t end it quite yet. It is Little Bluestem grass, with its stellar orange hue, and Mountain Mint with its still upright seed heads.
I’m going to enjoy it for a few more days before cutting them both to the ground.
You knew it wouldn’t be long before I featured an ornamental grass in a “Plant Combo of the Week” post and you would be correct. This one is brutally simple with the two plants available at every garden center around.
I give you Monarda (Bee Balm) and Calamagrostis acutiflora (Feather Reed Grass) ‘Karl Foerster’.
This combo peeks in early summer when the Bee Balm is in full bloom and smelling deliciously minty and ‘Karl Foerster’ blooms have settled into their long lasting buff color.
Take a step back in my garden and you’ll see that I also have them matched up with Joe Pye Weed which blooms the latest of the three.
But we’ll keep it simple for now and keep Joe Pye Weed and my exquisite design skills out of it.
I’d love to tell you that I masterminded this pairing from the beginning but of course I didn’t. The Karl Foerster grasses have been in this location for years with the only upkeep being a quick trim to the ground in late winter. By that time, new signs of growth are already evident since Karl is a cool season grass.
I should add one more piece of maintenance. Every three years I divide these grasses and as a result, have a ton throughout my garden. It couldn’t be an easier task and the divided sections are so quick to establish, with the only requirement being supplemental watering if divided during a dry time.
The Karl Foerster grasses look great spring, summer and even into fall, when the blooms shine when back lit by the late afternoon sun.
The Bee Balm started as three tiny little plugs that I shoved in an open spot at the end of the gardening season and in three year’s time, they have exploded.
Are they invasive? I would say they are “aggressive spreaders” but I have no issue pulling those that jump out of bounds and planting the piece in another spot or gulp, tossing them into the compost pile.
In case you weren’t already aware, Bee Balm attracts visitors like mad and provides endless hours of entertainment and photo opportunities all summer.
Even after the blooms fully fade in late summer, they still look  great with their brown seed heads.
And all the way into winter.
Both plants thrive in my clay soil, don’t mind some wet feet from time to time and are 100% ignored by the deer and rabbits.
Some observations from out in the garden:
This white bee balm is the only one to have survived last winter and while it is nice to see it blooming, it honestly doesn’t do much for me and the powdery mildew is real bad, worse than with all of the other bee balm. We don’t know until we try, right?
Right plant for the right location = happiness, as seen with the Physostegia (Obedient Plant) below. This first photo was taken back in May when I dug up and divided a massive batch of these and relocated them to my newly extended and very empty garden bed.
Two months later and they are thriving in a very wet and full sun location. I am very psyched for the massive pink display to arrive next month.
You’ve all seen all of my numerous pics of Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ and read my raving reviews of this perennial but in the spirit of my last post and with full disclosure, here is the reality of the “legs” on these right now.
Fortunately, I’ve shielded most of them with other low lying plants so the blooms remain the attraction.
I love how one ‘Karl Foerster’ grass (Calamagrostis) can break up a mass of perennials and not only lend a different height/uprightness, but a different texture as well.
I cleared this area of nasty Canada Thistle by cutting them all at soil level and not by attempting to pull out the roots like a dope which has failed me miserably for years now since it actually multiplies the number of weeds when pieces of root break off.
I will now finally track the results properly. Here is one example of the cutting.
And about one week later. I’m going to now cut it back again soon and will continue to do so until it kills itself by sapping all of the plant’s energy. Or so I hope. More to come.
I just purchased a few ‘Delft Lace’ Astilbes solely because I fell in love with the red stems and red tinged foliage. I’ll be sure to track this one for you and hopefully I don’t fry them since you know, they need constant moisture and it is the dead of summer. Smart.
My attempt at a path with a true destination worth visiting.
These purplish bee balm are incredible right now and are my favorite current place in the garden.Â
They are bringing in a ton of visitors.Â
Check out all of the action with this video.
A video posted by john markowski (@jmarkowski0) on
QOTD – Where do you purchase most of your plants? And I want specific names and locations please.
Thank you.
I spent a few hours outdoors this morning tending to some spring cleaning chores – cutting down the dead perennial foliage, shearing down the smaller ornamental grasses and making my son pull the exposed poison ivy vines (he is not allergic). As I was traversing the garden, clearing the dead growth and looking for emerging foliage, I came to a realization I hadn’t really well, realized before: my garden is dominated by Bee Balm.
The purple-green rosettes are everywhere right now.
I’ve written previously about Bee Balm thrives in my wet clay soil and does it ever multiply in no time wherever I’ve planted it. And not in an invasive way. The underground rhizomes spread happily and fill in empty spots along the way. If it ever stretches where I don’t want it, I simply pull it out by the roots and plant it somewhere else in the garden.
At this point in time, I have so many different cultivars of Bee Balm (Monarda) that I’ve forgotten all of the names. All I know is that they all bloom like mad starting in early summer and the blooms last for weeks, and even longer if they are deadheaded along the way.
Bee Balm looking good in late spring, even before the blooms have revealed themselves.
And kicking butt and taking names when in bloom.
Drawing in the bees and other critters.
They look great even as the blooms start to fade in mid summer.
And remain interesting into winter.
Some additional facts on this perennial:
I planted a white cultivar of Bee Balm last spring and I’m hoping it really takes off this year. Either way, prepare yourself for even more Bee Balm pics this gardening season.
I despise the cold weather and it is getting worse and worse as I get older.
I hate the snow and I do not find it to be the least bit “cozy”. It physically hurts my eyes to even glance at it.
I don’t ski and find sledding to be way overrated.
But even after having said all that, I have come to appreciate the winter garden. It is a reminder of what was, a chance to rest and recharge and at the same time, a promise of what is to come.
I recently put on my big boy pants and a warm jacket, and set out to capture just some of the plants in the winter garden. After reviewing all of the photos I had taken, I realized that I had similar shots of those same plants during the spring and summer. So as a means of contrast, I’ve included the most current pic and then one from earlier when it warm and delicious outdoors.
Enjoy.
Tropical milkweed, which is an annual and one that reseeded for me this past year.
Eupatorium ‘Wayside’ which looks like the annual Ageratum but is truly a perennial.
A combo of Bee Balm, Joe Pye Weed and Clethra ‘Hummingbird’.
Juniper ‘Wichita Blue’, Bee Balm and Panicum ‘Rots’.
Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ (Dappled Willow) with its awesome stem colors.
Amsonia tabernaemontana looking cool and curly. Still a personal favorite of mine during all seasons.
I love the dried seed capsules of Baptisia and admittedly have yet to explore how to save the seeds. That is what winter is all about, research and reading.
Sedum ‘Red Carpet’ peeking through what little snow we have right now.
And old reliable, the Purple Coneflower. I always enjoy watching the finches pay a visit and feast on the seedheads.
A friend in town, who only recently became aware of this life changing blog, asked me for some plant recommendations. Oh shit. Typically I am not a fan of doling out plant advice because the pressure can become crippling.
If the recommended plant doesn’t survive, I’m scorned at the next basketball game.
If the suggested choice can’t be found at the local nursery, I’m no longer trusted and the kids aren’t invited to any more birthday parties.
But I’m putting it all on the line today.
Without fear.
I am that confident with the choices I’m about to offer up. The following perennials (staying away from grasses for now; he’ll have to buy me lunch first) are very specific to the conditions we have here in zone 6B New Jersey. Throw in deer and rabbits galore. Â And a high water table which leads to very poor draining soil.
So my local homey, here are the top 7 perennials that I can vouch for based on my personal experience. Each has thrived for at least 5 years running and all show no signs of slowing down.
Click on the hyperlink for each plant name for additional info where applicable.
You are welcome in advance.
#1 – Joe Pye Weed – close to 6 feet tall, blooms are long lasting, attracts numerous critters  and looks good all the way into the fall.
#2 – Amsonia – the deer have never touched it, great bluish blooms in spring followed by fine textured foliage all summer. But Fall is when it shines with unbelievable colors ranging from yellow to orange. Â Â
#3 – Astilbe – no critter has ever touched it, appreciates oodles of moisture, blooms in white and pink and red in late spring and the fern like foliage separates itself from others. Â Â
#4 – Bee Balm – the scent keeps the deer at bay, the bees flock to it and the blooms last all summer and even into fall. I personally love the taller options which make their presence known in the garden.
#5 – Purple Coneflower – yes they are everywhere but it is still an oldie but goodie. Multiplies like mad so there is a full supply year to year. Consistent blooms without a care in the world. Â Â
#6 – Lobelia – cherishes the waterlogged soil and provides late summer blooms.
#7 – Mountain Mint – not the showiest, but what a critter magnet. I could stand over these in bloom all day.
We’ll talk again in spring dude but start doing your homework now if you want to continue to hang with me.
As I was recently stressing/obsessing over how to fill in some bare spots in my garden, three things came to mind:
With that in mind, the obvious choice was to take my excess Monarda (Bee Balm) plants and relocate them to where they can spread to their heart’s content.
Nothing has thrived in my garden more the past few years than Monarda as they have easily doubled in size in just the last two years alone. I love the fact that they spread and fill in aggressively without acting as a true thug.
I started with this location as you can see they are starting to take over the neighboring Juniper: 
Why not grab a few that are closest to the Juniper and simply dig them out and move them:
I find it incredibly simple to just place a trowel into the soil underneath the stem of plant, wiggle it a bit to loosen up the roots and then yank it out with my hand:
And just like that, you have yourself a new plant. You can clearly see from the roots how this perennial spreads so easily:
I quickly determined where to move my new Bee Balm. This one was going to be relocated between two Miscanthus:
In it went:
And then to assist in the plant’s establishment, I snipped off the spent flowers and all of the leaves so the plant’s energy could be focused on root development (Quick note – I made the decision to do it this way on my own and cannot vouch if I did everything scientifically correct here):
The plant was then deeply watered and left to do its thing. Now we just wait and see how it all plays out.
I moved close to ten of these Monarda and a bunch of Purple Coneflowers as well and it didn’t cost me a dime. They are the gift that keeps on giving.
By the way, I am well aware of the powdery mildew on my Bee Balm:
I even wrote a post about it last year (which you can read here).
My typical move is to cut these down to the ground around this time each year but I’m leaving them all alone this year just to see if it truly causes any future issues. I also enjoy the spent blooms in the fall and covered in snow in winter.
Damn this stuff is fun isn’t it?
What’s been doing in my garden these days:
Monarda (Bee Balm) is reliable, spreads as I need it to, has great color and attracts the critters:
My Purple Coneflower/Russian Sage combo is the oldest in my garden and never disappoints:
Hot damn, I love this Helenium (Sneezeweed) ‘Short n Sassy’:
The first of the Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) to bloom. This is ‘Baby Joe’:
The Physostegia (Obedient Plant) is blooming weeks before it ever has before:
Phlox’n awesome:
Man do I love daylillies (‘Little Grapette’) … pause for effect … look up hypocrite in the dictionary … lose my street cred:
First Coneflower “Sunshine’ bloom:
Awaiting first Coneflower ‘Fragrant Angel’ blooms:
Filling in nicely:
Monarda (Bee Balm) ‘Colrain Red’ in front of a soon to be blooming Clethra ‘Hummingbird’:
The first signs of bloom on ‘Baby Joe’ Joe Pye Weed. I am so psyched to have located these dwarf versions of the original:
Plant name, no idea; it is everywhere in the wild growth around my property and some snuck into my man-made garden. Pretty cool:
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) emerging (in front of Panicum ‘Northwind’):
Mountain Mint is so understated but that is why I love it … that and all the bugs it attracts:
I have no idea which phlox this is; got three for $1.99 and I couldn’t resist, powdery mildew be damned: