monarda fistulosa

HABITAT
(Monarda fistulosa) Perennial  herb native
to Northeastern N. America, occurs in dry thickets,
clearings and  woodland edges from Ontario and British Columbia
to Georgia and Mexico.

CULTIVATION
Wild Bergamot is easily grown in ordinary garden soil.
Grows well  in heavy clay soils, requires a sunny position,
this species thrives when grown  in a dry soil and prefers
alkaline soil conditions.
It has showy, pale blue or  lilac flowers in large heads or whorls
of about 20-50 flowers at the top of the  branching stem,
supported by leafy bracts, the leaflets are a pale-green color.
Its square, grooved and hard stems rise about 3 feet high.
The leaves occur in  opposite pairs, are rough on both surfaces,
are distinctly toothed, and  lance-shaped.
Fine dense hairs cover much of the stem and leaves.
Roots are  short, slender, creeping rhizomes.
Wild Bergamot flowers bloom from June to  July.
Gather edible leaves and flowers in bloom, dry for later herb use.


TRY THIS  RECIPE
Medicinal tea: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water,
steep 10 min. sweeten to taste, take at  bedtime.


ACTIONS
MAGICAL PROPERTIES OF HERBS




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In green old gardens, hidden away
From sight of revel and sound of strife, -
Here have I leisure to breathe and move,
And to do my work in a nobler way;
To sing my songs, and to say my say;
To dream my dreams, and to love my love;
To hold my faith, and to live my life,
Making the most of its shadowy day.

IN GREEN OLD GARDENS
Violet Fane [1843-1905]

They called me a Greenwoman

From Firethorn by Sarah Micklem