Background: Yesterday, as I was considering taking the night off from blogging to mourn the end of Wild Onion season and make Pickled Wild Meadow Garlic Bulblets, I spotted the thing I’d been looking for since the Bastard Cabbage and Bluebonnets sprung up. It’s, without a doubt, my favorite flower. It’s sometimes, unappealingly, called Horsemint and sometimes, confusingly, called Lemon Beebalm (despite the fact that it’s different from both Bee Balm and Lemon Balm). Whatever you call it informally, it’s legit name is Monarda citriodora. Here’s what I do with it:
- Hunt for it with kids.
- Chew the flowers.
- Pick the leaves and use in recipes that call for oregano.
- Dry a year’s worth.
Why It Works
- It’s so distinct and beautiful that my kids love to find it for me and bring me bunches of it, showing off their plant ID skills. It’s also does really well in wide open spaces like the right-of-ways on roads.
- If you’ve ever taken real oregano oil for any ailment, you will know the flavor of the flowers. It’s strong and peppery. It helps calm and focus me, like Bee Balm is reported to do for some. I chew the flowers and tuck them in my lip and spit them out when they lose their flavor.
- The leaves can be used in salads or to flavor sausage.
- When the fresh stuff is gone, you can make a tea from the dried stuff that helps with sleep.
Mods:
- Use the dried flowers to infuse cocktails.