While eating lunch, Mary Alice (as usual) was looking out the window at the flower gardens when she excitedly said, “There is a hummingbird at the Monarda flowers.” We watched as the tiny bird went from one flower to another before flying away.

Almost every day we notice a different wildflower appearing along the road sides. My latest sighting was the Oswego tea. In a week or two, the yarrow, tansy, goldenrod, evening primrose, mullein, Joe-Pye weed, Queen Ann’s lace, touch-me nots will be appearing in the fields and along the road sides. To me, these plants make up gardens more beautiful than a planned garden that requires much work and expense.

Oswego tea is also known as bee balm and Monarda. Its scientific name is Monarda didyma. The genus name Monarda was given to the plant by Linnaeus in honor of Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588), a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist. Although Monardes never went to the Americas, he was able to study medicinal plants in Spain due to their control of navigation and commerce from the New World. The species name didyma is from a Greek word, meaning paired or twinned, referring to the two stamens found on each flower.

The Oswego Native American tribe lived in the region of the Oswego River, located in New York State. The word Oswego means the pouring out place. These Native Americans made tea from the plant and also taught the values of the plant to European settlers. Oswego tea is one of the few plants known by a Native American name.

With the shortage of tea in America after the Boston Tea Party, the strong minty flavor of the Oswego tea plant made it ideal for making tea. The tea was also found to have a soothing effect for stomach aches and reducing fevers.

In the mid-1700s, John Bartram, of Philadelphia, reportedly sent seeds from the Oswego tea plant (aka bee balm and bergamot) to England; from England, the plant journeyed to the Continent, where it is still cultivated under the names of gold Melissa and Indian nettle. The Shakers, in America, were among the foremost growers of this herb. A Shaker settlement was located near Oswego, New York. The Shakers, who were among America’s great herbalists, valued the Oswego tea plant not only for tea and culinary uses but also for its medicinal virtues. The leaves were used to flavor apple jelly, fruit cups, salads and a tea, which was also used to treat colds as well as tender throats. Some settlers steamed the entire plant and then breathed in the vapor to unblock sinus problems. The plant was also used to soothe both bee and insect bites, which led to its being known as bee balm.

Although the entire Oswego tea plant emits a strong fragrance similar to citrus, the scent is most similar to that of the orange bergamot, which is a tropical plant; hence, the nickname of bergamot. The scent is suitable for use in potpourris and other scented mixtures. Mary Alice’s brilliant red flowers have attracted bees, hummingbirds and butterflies and provide showy and long-lasting blooms. The blossoms provide the flavoring for the famous Earl Grey tea, and they are also edible.

The Monarda didyma Oswego tea plant is known by many names: crimson bee balm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet Monardo and bergamot. Oswego tea is a perennial plant native to North America that grows to a maximum height of three feet and bears coarse leaves. The shaggy flower heads are large, with colors varying from deep pink to purple and red.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is another herb that is closely linked to Oswego Tea. These two species often share similar names. Oswego tea bears vivid red blooms and thrives well when grown in fertile, damp soil, particularly in areas having deciduous forests. While wild bergamot bears lavender and occasionally white-hued blooms, this plant is usually found growing in more arid and sunlit areas. Except for these two differences, both species appear similar. In addition, these two species are extremely aromatic. While the fragrance of Oswego tea (Monarda didyma) compares to citrus, wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) has a pungent, mint like aroma. From colonial days to the present, these two species as well as numerous hybrids have been grown as popular garden flowers. Their varying colors attract butterflies, humming birds and bumblebees.

While out and about, be sure to keep watch for the many colorful wild flowers appearing along the roadsides and in the fields.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.