A leaf of Bergamot, ( my all time favorite herb) tucked in your hat will keep mosquitos and gnats away.

Bergamot is a good companion plant for tomatoes.

During the American Revolution Bergamot tea was the most popular substitute for the unpopular English brew.

Every time I buy plants, I seem to come home with more Bergamot too!

I like the tall leafy plants, and the way the bees and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers that seem to bloom all summer.

Those I put in shady areas ( especially areas that retain moisture longer) seem to do much better than those in full sun, yet the little sticks in the plants often say, "full sun". Those I plant in composted manure seem to like it better too!

I like plants that bloom for long periods of time. I like aromatic plants. Suggestions?

-- Granny Hen (clucking along@cs.com), May 28, 2002

Answers

since nothing really blooms to long here,, wondering of your Bergamot would do well here ????? CHives seem to bloom for most of the summer,, wanna trade seeds?

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), May 28, 2002.

Granny, is bergamot the same as Bee Balm? I do love my bee balm. I dug up all my red and moved it - still have a couple chunks left sitting in a bucket, waiting for a new home!! I then replanted the areas with pink, purple and white bee balm; I don't think they get quite as tall. It spreads like wildfire - not a good choice in the perennial bed unless you're willing to dig it back every year.

I also like the salvias - perennial and annual. I bought a very pretty mix this year - pink, white and blue; a lighter blue than most salvias.

Not much for blooming, but I like the scented geraniums for, well, scent! I always put a citronella smelling one in the pot that is under the top of my porch table (glass top) to keep the bugs away when we eat outside. I surround it with petunias for pretty!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 28, 2002.

Stan, Sure. . .I'd trade, but NOT seeds. I have trouble growing mildew! LOL! Honest. I simply was not blessed with a green thumb, but I am working on it.. and this year I seem to be making a little progress. I have six baby spider plants with long, long, roots growing in glass bottles in my kitchen windows. Nothing I ever start from seed grows beyond long-legs with a couple of little leaves. So. . . I go to the nurseries and contribute to those with the green thumb, plant, and enjoy for a while before death occurs.

I have to admit though, the year before last I bought this half-dead plant at Walmart, never got around to planting it, and it sat until late last spring when I noticed green sprouts coming from the roots. I planted it by the house just to see what would happen. Well, it grew and grew and grew, to at least 4 1/2 feet tall maybe a little more, gree hollow stems with fluffy leaves. And then, suddenly in late summer, it erupted with these beautiful big hot pink flowers, and it bloomed and bloomed and bloomed. I felt so blessed to have those flowers! ! I've tried to find anything in gardening books that looks like this plant so I can get some more, but I can't! I thought it was hyacinth, but the flowers are different. When the plant died last fall, the stems became very woody, and hollow. This spring the green stems are coming in new off the roots, and I had to cut off the old stems. Anyone know what this is? Stan, you send me your address, I'll send you Bee Balm. You will love it! ! Then, we figure out what you can trade me!

Yes, it is Bee Balm. I love the smell of Bee Balm! !

I'm going to go get some salvia and try it. I have a new flower/shrub garden I've started. Oh! Great idea for the stepping stones. I used pieces of marble and granite a local manufacturer throws in the dumpster. ( They throw away pieces big enough to make table tops).

Keep sending me ideas. I like flowers that are "bushy", and bloom for long periods!

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 28, 2002.

Sounds like hibiscus.

-- someone (abc@xyz.nospam), May 29, 2002.

Someone, Thank you! I looked at the picture in the gardening book and that IS exactly what that plant is. It is really a pretty plant. I have to shop for my sister's birthday today, and I'm going to see if I can find me some more hibiscus plants! ! !

I really want to be a gardner when I grow up! LOL

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 29, 2002.

jasmine. though it doesn't bloom long.

four o'clocks

moonflower. those smell great, vine like a big morning glory, blooms at night.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), May 29, 2002.

You're welcome. I am sure she will enjoy the plant. There are so many different colors to choose from and they are so dramatic looking. They really make the perrenial garden look exotic and interesting.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), May 29, 2002.