Bee Balm

Another stunning beauty in my yard this spring is Bee Balm (Monarda). 


I believe I inherited this pass along plant from Linda who blogs at Patchwork Garden http://patchworkgarden.blogspot.com/  When she gave me the plant in October, it had no bloom and was just a spindly little thing.  I had no idea it would grow to almost five feet tall and have the most beautiful pinkish purplish color.  I don't even know what color this is.  Fuchsia?


If I were to name this plant, I might call it Bee, Butterfly, and Hummingbird Balm because it has so many other visitors besides just bees.  And, the deer don't bother it.  I definitely need more of this gem!

Basket Flower

Finally, I have figured out what this tall, beautiful, and intriguing flower is!  It's Basket Flower (Centaurea Americana). 


I'm sure I planted it from seed along with hundreds of other wildflower seeds that I threw out this past fall.  I have all sorts of things popping up, not knowing if they are going to turn into flowers or a weed that will become invasive.  So, I decided to let ride...leaving it to grow larger, and larger to almost five feet tall.  Thank goodness it turned out to be this stunning beauty!


I hope the rest of the unknown plants I am letting grow turn out this well.