Benefits of Planting Bee Balm

This flower is a classic, timeless choice for a garden bustling with butterflies, bees, and birds. Native to North America, bee balm (Monarda spp., zones 4 to 9), is widely available in bright colors like red, blue, purple or pink. This perennial is in the mint family, and gardeners enjoy the minty citrus scent of the leaves, which may be used to make tea. The plant, sometimes known as bergamot, doesn’t generally fare well in humid southern climates, but it thrives everywhere else. It should be grown in part to full sun, in moist, well-draining soil.

Monarda plants typically show some level of deer resistance, which makes them an excellent option for home gardens. Hummingbirds adore the nectar! In fact, it is one of the best colorful flowers to grow for hummingbirds.

Deadheading is an option to keep the plant looking tidy, but if you’re gardening for birds, don’t—songbirds enjoy the seeds that appear after petals are spent.

Does Bee Balm Attract Bees?

Too big to access nectar through the tubular flowers, bumblebees and other beneficial insects create a tiny hole at the base for a sweet reward.

Create the perfect yard for pollinators with more of the best flowers to attract bees.

Bee Balm for Small Spaces

If you’re looking for a slightly smaller option to fit in a more compact space, try Pardon My Rose. Nectar-rich, intensely pink blooms make it a midsummer standout in borders and containers. Although 3 feet shorter than other bee balms, the flowers are full size, and minty-scented foliage makes the plant deer resistant.

• Pardon My Rose bee balm
• Monarda didyma, Zones 4 to 8
• Attracts: Birds, bees, butterflies
• Light needs: Part to full sun
• Size: 14 to 18 inches tall and 22 to 28 inches wide
• Soil needs: Moist, well-draining preferred but adapts to all soils
• Care tips: The plants are mildew resistant and low maintenance. Simply deadhead to keep them looking neat and tidy.

Ask The Experts: Flowers Not Blooming

“My bee balm bloomed beautifully for several years, but last summer only two or three flowers appeared. How can I bring it back?” —Birds & Blooms reader Rocklyn Miller

Horticultural expert Melinda Myers: Start by evaluating any changes in the growing conditions. A reduction in sunlight from new structures or growing trees may cause sun-loving bee balm to produce fewer flowers. If this is the case, move the plants to an area where they receive at least six hours of sunlight to maximize their flowering.

Otherwise, review your fertilization and watering practices. Too much high-nitrogen fertilizer and drought-like conditions can impede blooms. Avoid excess fertilization and be sure to water your bee balm thoroughly during dry periods.

Next, discover fragrant flowers that pollinators love.

Most gardeners are aware that bulbs like tulips and daffodils should be planted in fall, but lily bulbs are a special case. You can find lily bulbs sold in both fall and spring. So which planting season is better, and how should you grow them?

Discover 4 types of flower bulbs that gardeners should grow.

When to Plant Lily Bulbs

According to horticulturist Vanessa Elms, owner of Old House Gardens, either fall or spring is fine. But fall is a little more forgiving if you can’t plant the bulbs right away.

“Lilies purchased in springtime have been stored all winter in a temperature-controlled setting and are very eager to get growing,” she says. “Fall planted bulbs are more dormant and are best planted ASAP but we have had good success planting them later in November (we are in zone 6a).”

From Elm’s observation after planting the same variety both seasons, spring planting gives you a stronger start and faster blooms.

“For the fall-planted bulbs, we see a modest display of flowers the next year and the height of the plant will not be the standard height of that variety,” she says. “For the spring planted bulbs, we see more successful first-year flowering in the summer-blooming lilies.”

True lily vs daylily: what’s the difference?

Where to Plant Lily Bulbs

Lilies prefer a sunny but not overly hot location, so if planting in the South look for a spot with afternoon shade. Give them some space from their neighbors for air circulation—approximately 9 to 18 inches apart depending on the lily’s ultimate size.

Their ideal soil is well-drained, fertile, and humusy, Elms says, so if you have clay soil, amend or plant in raised beds. The drainage is probably the key factor, she says. Overly wet soil risks rotting the bulbs before you can enjoy them. While adaptable, most prefer their soil slightly acidic. Tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium or Lilium tigrinum) and Henry’s lily (Lilium henryi) thrive in neutral to alkaline soil.

Be generous while digging your hole for each lily. Plant them deep—three or four times the height of the bulb in soil. That deep planting helps keep the bulbs from drying out. Topping with mulch during spring and summer helps shade the lily bulbs’ roots. In cold climates, a winter mulch is helpful to prevent frost damage after waking up too early.

Special note: While Elms says in her experience, pets aren’t attracted to eating lilies, all parts of the plant contain compounds toxic to cats. She recommends if your pet samples your foliage regularly, to site them out of reach, including if you bring them inside to adorn your table.

Learn how to grow and care for Asiatic lily plants.

Lily Bulb Care Tips

Because lilies dislike being wet for very long, make sure not to love them too much when it comes to watering. In most cases, consistent rainfall should suffice to nourish your lily bulbs, but if the weather is excessively dry, take some time to water.

When lilies are happy, they naturalize, making smaller bulbs on the side of the original “mother bulb”. The original bulb eventually declines in strength as the new ones grow. You’ll see it put out smaller flowers over the years. Dividing every two or three years not only expands your lily patch but invigorates your bulbs.

If you want to relocate or divide your lily bulbs to a new spot in the garden, it’s best to wait until after the blooming season. “Ideally, after Labor Day is best for splitting and dividing your established plants,” Elm says.

Then, you simply dig up your lily bulbs, pull apart the side bulblets and discard the remnants of the oldest bulb. Replant three to four times as deep just as you did originally. You’ll be awash in blooms in no time!

Next, check out lovely pictures of lilies you need to see.

Peace Lily Plant Care

These humidity-loving plants are a great option to bring into your home. Not only do they help purify the air, but they’re also a perfect beginner houseplant because they’re relatively easy to take care of and maintain. Peace lily plants do well in most light conditions, even in shade, though they prefer bright, indirect light. They can also handle a certain amount of under or overwatering and typically bounce back after the right balance is found. Plus, peace lilies rarely develop pest problems.

One thing to know is that a peace lily isn’t an a true lily and its flowers aren’t actually flowers! Peace lilies are part of the Aracae family, which also includes philodendron and calla lilies — also not true lilies. And another name for peace lilies is spathe lilies. The spathes on peace lilies look like large petals but they’re actually bracts or modified leaves.

How Often Should You Water a Peace Lily?

Peace lilies like moist soil but overwatering is a big reason they fail to thrive, so it’s important to find a balance. Instead of keeping to a strict watering schedule, check once a week to see how it’s doing. If the top soil is dry, it’s time to water. If the top soil is still moist from the last time you watered the plant, leave it be. Just make sure you aren’t watering the plant so heavily that it ends up sitting in water, as it’s prone to root rot.

Daylily care 101: expert growing tips for gardeners.

How to Repot a Peace Lily

Peace lilies don’t need repotting often — usually every few years. You can repot any time of year but spring is considered ideal.

Because peace lilies have a tendency to get waterlogged, it’s important to choose the right soil and container. Luckily, they don’t require anything fancy. Soil that’s specifically for houseplants is a solid go-to but any potting mix that’s described as water retentive is great, too. Select a container that has drainage holes and is slightly larger than the container the peace lily is currently in.

The day before repotting, water your peace lily to make the soil easier to handle. When you’re ready to repot, carefully remove the plant by gently holding it at its base and slowly working it out. Loosen the rootball with care and then place it in its new container, making sure to fill the space around it with soil. Water again and hold off on fertilizing for a month or two.

Learn how to grow and care for Asiatic lilies.

Drooping Leaves

If you’ve noticed that your peace lily is starting to lose vitality and its leaves are drooping, that’s most likely a sign that it’s not receiving the right amount of water. Find a good middle ground between watering too little and watering too much. When this plant is allowed to wilt and droop too many times, it can be harder for it to bounce back.

If you’re watering the right amount but the leaves are still lackluster, there’s another possible culprit: too much light. Peace lilies like bright, indirect light. Most indoor light is considered indirect, but if your plant is directly next to a window, that may be too much sun and it should be moved a few feet back.

Grow Oriental lilies for outstanding garden color.

Brown Leaf Tips

Too much sunlight or fertilizer or too little water or humidity is usually what turns the leaf tips of a peace lily brown. Try one or two solutions at a time to verify you’ve found what’s causing the program. For example, pull back on on adding more fertilizer to the plant and, if the soil is also dry, water more frequently. An easy way to improve humidity is to regularly mist the foliage every few days.

Toad lily adds beauty to fall shade gardens.

Yellow Leaves

When peace lilies develop yellow leaves, it’s usually a symptom of not getting enough water. This is a plant that likes moisture, so make sure you’re regularly watering it. Most peace lilies need to be watered once a week to stay healthy. Another possible reason for yellow leaves is that the plant may be ready for a new container. If the yellow leaves happen to be the oldest leaves on the plant and if it’s been some time since you’ve repotted, it may need a little space to stretch its roots out.

Grow Persian lily flowers for dark garden drama.

Are Peace Lily Plants Toxic?

Peace lilies are beautiful, but they’re mildly toxic to humans, cats and dogs. What makes them poisonous is the sharp, tiny calcium oxalate crystals found in all parts of the plant. If a child or pet chews on this plant, their mouth will get painfully irritated. Other symptoms include drooling, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the mouth or tongue. If ingested, vomiting may also occur.

The good news is that taking a bite out of a peace lily isn’t likely to cause permanent harm. If your pet or child does have a negative interaction with the plant, call your local poison control or veterinarian. However, if you know that your pet or child is a little too curious, it’s better to stay on the safe side and either keep the plant out of reach or avoid bringing it into your home altogether. Or try these pet-friendly houseplants, instead.

Next, check out lovely pictures of lilies you need to see.

Why You Should Grow Calla Lilies

The unique and striking blooms of a calla lily are always showstoppers in the garden (even if they aren’t technically lilies). In warmer climates, calla lilies are easy to care for. Where winters are frigid, they’ll take some extra work, but their exquisite flowers make them worth the effort.

• Botanical Name: Zantedeschia spp.
• Growing Zone: 8 to 11 (or lower, if dug and stored indoors in winter)
• Light Needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Use: Excellent cut flower
• Backyard tip: All parts of the plant are toxic. Keep away from children and pets.

True lily vs daylily: What’s the difference?

Are Calla Lilies Perennials?

Calla lilies are perennials of the tropics and sub-tropics. In growing zones 8 to 10, they thrive with little extra care once established. But gardeners in zones 7 and lower will need to treat calla lilies a bit differently. You can simply plant them as annuals to enjoy for a single season. Or, you can lift the bulbs each winter, storing them indoors to protect them from freezing.

When grown as perennials, calla lilies start flowering in late spring or early summer. There are many different varieties of calla lilies, and they can be broken into three bloom-time categories: early-season, mid-season, and late-season. Once a plant begins blooming, it usually continues for 6 to 12 weeks. By planting a mix of varieties, you can enjoy these special flowers all season long.

Learn how to grow and care for Asiatic lily plants.

Calla Lily Care

Start by choosing varieties that suit your garden needs. Lower-growing varieties top out at around 12 inches, making them ideal in borders. Taller types can reach up to 2 to 3 feet, and may be better suited for the back of the garden. Ensure they’ll receive at least some sun every day. In cooler zones, these plants can handle full sun, while morning sun and afternoon shade is best in warmer areas.

Calla lilies grow from rhizomes. Start them outdoors in spring, after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees F. Plant the rhizome about 3 to 4 inches deep in well-drained soil, with the growing tips pointed up. Cover with soil and water them in, then water sparingly until the first shoots show above ground. Provide regular watering once leaves appear, along with a dose of liquid fertilizer once a month or so.

Grow tropical ginger lily for late-season flowers.

Overwintering Calla Lilies

Pull out spent flower stems at the base so the plant redirects its energy into next year’s blooms, rather than setting seed. Allow the plant to die back naturally in the fall, when it will go dormant over the winter. In zones 8 to 10, simply cut back on watering and allow the plant to rest. You may trim any yellowed leaves or foliage if you like.

In cooler zones, trim off the leaves, leaving an inch or two of stem. Dig up the rhizomes and store them in slightly damp peat moss in a cool dark place. Re-plant in spring when soil has warmed again. Note that in subsequent years, you may see decreased flowering. Increase fertilization to once every two weeks to encourage blooms.

Toad lily adds beauty to fall shade gardens.

Growing Calla Lilies Indoors

Calla lilies are often sold as potted plants, and they can indeed be grown indoors. They’ll need more frequent fertilization when grown in containers, but otherwise their growth requirements are about the same. Consider moving them outdoors during the summer months to an area that receives about six hours of sunlight a day.

Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy). In the winter, move pots into a cool place, reduce watering, and allow plants to go dormant.

Grow Oriental lilies for outstanding garden color.

Selected Calla Lily Varieties

• Black Magic’: Brilliant yellow flowers with black throats. 26 to 30 inches tall, mid-season blooms.
• ‘Black Star’: Speckled foliage, maroon-black flowers. 18 inches tall, early season blooms.
• ‘Captain Safari’: Orange flowers streaked with yellow, white spotted leaves. 12 to 24 inches, late season blooms.
• ‘Garnet Glow’: Deep pink low-growing flowers. 10 to 16 inches tall, mid-season blooms.
• ‘Green Goddess’: White flowers with green throats, strong fragrance. 20 inches tall, mid-season blooms.

Next, learn how to grow and care for crinum lilies.

Caterpillars Have Lots of Muscles

Humans have about 600 muscles. Caterpillars have as many as 4,000, with 248 in their heads alone. Meet 8 crazy cool caterpillars you could find in your backyard.

Caterpillars Can Grow Bigger Than You Think

Hickory horned devil caterpillars (Citheronia regalis) grow up to 5 1/2 inches long, making them among the world’s largest.

Do Caterpillars Eat Snails?

This one of our caterpillar facts might make you love them more. Hyposmocoma molluscivora, a Hawaiian moth, is the only species whose caterpillars are known to eat snails. They crawl inside the shells and eat the snails alive.

Once you finish reading these caterpillar facts, learn surprising snail facts you should know.

Do Caterpillars Have Legs?

Caterpillars have six true legs, found toward the front on the thorax. The other appendages are known as prolegs, and have suction cups called crotchets that cling tightly to surfaces.

What does a monarch caterpillar and chrysalis look like?

Skilled Silk Weavers

Silkworm moth caterpillars (Bombyx mori) produce unbroken silk threads up to 1,000 yards long to form their cocoons.

Find out what a milkweed tussock moth and caterpillar looks like.

One Caterpillar Has a Very Long Life Span

The Arctic woolly bear moth spends up to seven years as a caterpillar, eating for just a few days each summer.

Take our quiz to see how many types of caterpillars you can you identify.

A Popular Backyard Tree Is a Favorite Caterpillar Host Plant

Plant an oak tree in your yard if you want to see more caterpillars. Oak leaves are the favored food of more than 500 species of caterpillars in the U.S. Grow more host plants to attract caterpillars.

Victory Gardens Began Earlier Than You Think

Although most people associate the victory garden with World War II, they were first created and promoted during World War I. Americans were encouraged to use any available land for food production. This included backyard gardens, rooftops, vacant lots, and more.

Grow your own food with these fast-growing vegetables you can harvest quickly.

Why Were They Called Victory Gardens?

As head of the U.S. National War Garden Commission, businessman Charles Lathrop Pack heavily promoted “war gardens” in 1917 and later helped coin the name that stuck: victory gardens.

War Garden Programs for Kids Were Very Popular

More than 1 million children enrolled in the United States School Garden Army, a victory garden program for kids, in 1919. In 1942, approximately 15 million families took part in the effort. In 1944, New York public schoolchildren learned how to tend gardens, and put the knowledge to practical use by planting in the vacant lots next to schools.

Gardening with kids: check out our guide to backyard tasks for every age.

Millions Grew Gardens During World War II

By 1943, 20 million victory gardens were growing in the U.S. — producing millions of tons of vegetables. During World War II, approximately half of all Americans had one.

Discover 6 genius ways to use up extra tomatoes and veggies.

War Effort Gardens Produced Billions of Pounds of Food

Wartime gardeners in 1943 produced 10 billion pounds of food and provided 40% of the country’s fresh produce supply by 1944. Victory gardens promoted unity among American people, corporations, and even publishers, as encouragement to grow one’s own produce came from multiple places in American society. Frequently grown crops included beets, cabbage, tomatoes, turnips and squash.

Even The White House Planted a Victory Garden

Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden at the White House to support the war effort. Diana Hopkins, the 11-year-old daughter of one President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s advisers, tended to the garden.

Follow these tips for saving tomato and veggie seeds from your harvest.

Northern Bobwhite Sighting

“Last winter this northern bobwhite (above) sat on our back fence for over an hour and allowed my wife to get close enough to take photos. Bobwhites are not supposed to be in southern Idaho, so what was it doing in our yard?” asks Eric Adams of Meridian, Idaho.

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman: You’re right, northern bobwhites aren’t native to anyplace near Idaho, although there are a few small introduced populations in the Pacific Northwest. Bobwhites are often raised in captivity. Sportsmen’s groups sometimes release them into the wild, or use them to train hunting dogs how to “point” at game.

Because the one in your yard acted so tame, it was probably one of these pen-raised and released birds.

Are these mallards wild or domestic ducks?

Female Northern Bobwhite

“This bird (above) lived under my deck for several days. It ate seeds and greenery and drank from the water I put out for it. What is it?” asks Karen Norman of Freeport, Ohio.

George Harrison: Your mystery bird is a northern bobwhite, which is a member of the quail family. The one under your deck is a female, distinguished by the light buff face. Male bobwhites have bright white faces. Depending on the time of the year you photographed it, this bird may have been a juvenile that would resemble a female.

They are a very popular game bird in the southern and east-central U.S. A few get into the North, though some are escapees from nearby game farms.

Meet the prairie birds: stunning species of the grasslands.

Northern Bobwhite Call

Bobwhites are beautiful birds with a loud bob-bob-white whistle, sung by the males from fence posts during the breeding season.

“After hearing northern bobwhites for quite some time but barely catching a glimpse of any, I finally came face to face with one for the first time. one day, wood ducks flew overhead and landed near a marshy area of our property. While I walked through the bog to look for the ducks, I glanced over and saw this bobwhite sitting on a stump. It hopped down, stayed around the brush under the tree for a bit, then jumped up onto a branch, where it stayed for quite some time. It was very close, and I was so excited that it was hard to stay calm. I finally got a good bobwhite picture,” says reader Georgia Wilson.

What does a mourning dove call sound like?

Juvenile Northern Bobwhite

“What’s this bird that visited my yard last summer?” asks Colleen Gibbs of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

Kenn and Kimberly: This surprising visitor is a type of quail called a northern bobwhite—evidently a young male, still molting into adult plumage, as shown by the patchy pattern on its face.

Bobwhites are widespread native birds in the eastern U.S. However, despite the name “northern,” they don’t naturally occur as far north as your area of Minnesota. Many people keep small captive flocks in farm country, however, and this individual may have wandered away from such a flock.

Next, learn fascinating bird facts about wild turkeys.

Crimson Bottlebrush Shrub Care

• Common name: Crimson bottlebrush
• Botanical name: Callistemon citrinus
• Growing zones: 8 to 11
• Light needs: Full sun
• Soil needs: Acidic, moist, well-draining
• Attracts: Bees, birds

This broadleaf evergreen with distinctive flowers is grown as a large shrub or small tree in warm areas. Bottlebrush typically reaches 8 to 15 feet tall and wide. For small spaces, try Dragon Fire, which only reaches 3 feet tall and wide.

Northern gardeners can grow crimson bottlebrush in a container outdoors and overwinter it in a sunroom or greenhouse, since the plant is cold hardy down to 20 to 25 degrees. It’s resistant to most diseases, and deer usually don’t bother it. When growing this plant indoors, keep an eye out for spider mites and scale.

Discover the top 10 best hummingbird bushes to grow.

Plant bottlebrush in full sun (six to eight hours of consistent sunlight) in Zones 8 to 11. It’s not too picky about the soil it’s planted in, but it grows best in acidic, moist soils with good drainage. It also prefers to have consistent moisture when first established—so remember to keep it watered!

Want to attract birds in warmer climates? Check out these drought-tolerant plants and trees that are perfect for birds.

Crimson Bottlebrush Shrub Benefits

There’s a good reason crimson bottlebrush appears frequently in southern landscapes; it’s incredibly heat-tolerant. This shrub will bring pollinators such as native bees and birds into your backyard. Hummingbirds, especially, love the red flowers!

In addition, its blooms delight intermittently all year in warm regions. Even better, the crimson bottlebrush generally doesn’t require a whole lot of maintenance; prune in early spring or late summer. Gardeners appreciate the shrub’s showy blooms, but the foliage’s coppery-green leaves add interest, too. Leaves have a lemon fragrance when crushed.

Next, check out the even more colorful year-round shrubs and bushes.

Stella D’Oro Daylily Care and Growing Tips

• Common name: Stella d’oro daylily
• Scientific name: Hemerocallis x ‘Stella de Oro’
• Growing zones: 3 to 9
• Light needs: Full sun to partial sun
• Soil: Moist, well-draining
• Attracts: Butterflies

With a name like Stella d’oro daylily, you know you’re getting a dazzling garden star. These flowers are beloved backyard classics for a reason. In fact, it seems like there’s almost no garden problem that the easy-care perennials can’t solve.

These resilient yellow flowers will bloom in hot sunny borders, on slopes, and even thrive near black walnut trees or salted roads and driveways. However, they will not be happy in the shade. They are ignored by rabbits and most insect pests and not often affected by diseases, as long as they get enough light. These daylilies are known to be drought tolerant but will flower best with some supplementary water in the hottest weather conditions.

For best results, plant them in spring or early fall, with enough time for the plants to get established before the first frost.

Daylily care 101: get expert growing tips.

Flowers and Foliage

Award-winning Stella d’oro is known as a “mini” sized daylily, with fragrant flowers that are smaller than 3 inches. While the individual flowers only live for one day, the plant reblooms for several weeks throughout the summer.

Don’t miss lovely pictures of lilies you need to see

Plant them in groups for maximum color and impact, just make sure to give them space to grow. he green, grasslike foliage reaches 10 to 12 inches tall and wide. Divide each clump every few years for more free plants.

For stunning contrast, pair them with sun loving purple flowers such as Russian sage, coneflower, salvia or catmint.

True lily vs daylily: what’s the difference?