So you'll collect seeds this year and WS those monarda next year! This is how I justify buying plants (hardly ever anymore)- - I'll collect the seed. Of course some fancy hybridy thingys don't come true from seed but you usually get something nice!

I just love Monarda, any kind of Monarda! I sowed Monarda Panorama Mix and Blue Stocking. They'll both look good with my "Crazy Daisies", I can really relate to those! It's like they spoke to me from the seed site right through my pc ...

Monarda Petite Delight did quite well in my gardens at a former house but when transplanted here it disappeared the first winter. I've always wanted more as it was much better behaved than other Monardas.

Got a Jacob Cline from my SIL two years ago. Last year the clump was a bit bigger, but nothing to worry about. This year the clump has taken over a garden. I'm going to leave it there with the Phlox Paniculatas and try an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) experiment with them. The deers constantly decimate the phlox, but they hate Monardas and I want to see if the smell of the Monardas will fend them off the Phlox. You never know... It might work,eh? :O)

Tiffy: the little tag that came with the Monardas states that deer are "repelled" by them. I don't have deer issues, but apparently whatever aroma these things give off is pretty potent.

Go for it.

Prof

I've had Jacob Cline monarda next to my phlox 'David' and the deer still eat the blossoms on 'David' unless I spray with deer repellent (can't remember the name of the repellent, old age, you see). Think I might let the monarda spread into the phlox and see if that works. The red and white blooms should look nice mixed together. Is that how your's is, Nicole?

I've had Petite Delight for several years and love it. Two years ago I removed a large amount and last year didn't have enough left so am hoping it spread enough during the year to fill in this year.

I have started Blue Stocking and Cambridge Scarlet Monarda from seed. Both grew well.

Prof, one summer I direct sowed rosemary in my herb bed. It was a slow grower. Your rosemary may still germinate as temps warm. Tom Clothier "Rosmarinus officinalis , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), germinates in less than two wks thin cover, needs light"

I got a treat today too, DH went to the store for something else and came home with a scuffle hoe for me. Prof, your monarda looks gorgeous, what a little gem. You'd best have a feeder out for the hummers, you'll be seeing them working over the monarda every day. This plant is in the mint family, and I believe I read somewhere it is also known as Oswego Tea, the beverage of choice for the colonists after they dumped the English imports into the harbor.

Mary

I plan on treating myself this Wednesday. A local nursery is getting in a shipment of shrubs and in that shipment is an azalea I've been looking all over for, but no one carries. A Karen azalea. I bought two from Lowe's two years ago for the front of the house and one died. I've been looking for a replacement ever since. Now the empty spot will get filled. Plus, I'll see what else I can grab up. Maybe a lilac. Brunnera. We'll see.

Karen

This is my first year of Mondara, wow so hope it repels deer. Monarda Petite Delight looks like a very special plant to grow and enjoyed the pictures it googled up.

ML

I treated myself over the weekend too!! I just had to go to our local nursery to get some more seed starting mix, and of course look around a bit. They had some buddleia Honeycomb, and I just had to have it. Nice little plant about five inches tall, for $2.99, how could I go wrong?? I was impressed with the selection of perennials they had this year. It was much better. They also had some hibiscus dico belle-red, which I had tried to grow from seed last year and it hadn't worked, so I felt justified in picking that up. 8-)
Now with all this talk of your monarda petite delight, and what a nice one it is, I just may have to go back and see if they have that also.
gg

"when you're 5'6" you can relate to small things that smell good and attract passers-by."

Prof, I'm 5'6 too, and can definitely relate to small things (my big brother is 6'7 and my DH is 6'3, so I have felt short all my life, even if for a woman I'm a little taller than average.) However, while I admire things that attract passers-by, that doesn't usually describe me :( Smelling good is touch-and-go... depends on how you feel about the smell of finished compost, I guess.

On topic, I'm going to treat myself to a mail-order red-twig dogwood that only grows to 4'. It's to replace an evergreen that is dying in my front bed. (Thank goodness, because even though I have always hated it, dh wouldn't let me yank it until now.)

Deb