#spotted beebalm

[dvoeverie-stitches]

Midsummer Forage

I harvest my midsummer plants the three days before and after St. John’s Eve. This year focusing heavily on the days before, as we are about to be deluged with rain. So far on the south side of the river I have gathered heartleaf stinging nettle (a native with similar medicinal qualities to stinging nettle), spotted beebalm (a very strong beebalm to be used sparingly), and an acorn for an amulet bag from the biggest and possibly oldest white oak in Arkansas—at his zenith before, according to the old legend, the holly king begins his ascent.

It’s late in the year to use the nettle culinarily, so it will be saved for teas.

[faguscarolinensis]

Monarda punctata / Eastern Horsemint

[thebashfulbotanist]

Monarda punctata, spotted beebalm, is found throughout central and eastern North America, with a few populations farther west. This particular plant was located at LBJ Grasslands in Texas. As the common name would suggest, spotted beebalm is a favorite of bees. People have used it as well in various teas said to help with various aches and pains and fevers.

[horsesarecreatures]

Spotted Horse Mint (Monarda punctata)

Native

[microcosmicobservations]

Not the greatest shot, but one of my favorite flowers of the summer, horsemint (Monarda punctata)

7-14 at UW-Madison Arboretum