Bee Balm

Today's the day ........................ for edible flowers

I had a lovely Christmas present from my friend Andrea last year - a tin containing 8 varieties of seeds of edible flowers.  So plants like French Marigold, Borage, Nasturtium and these Lemon Bergamot or Bee Balm.

It's not to be confused with Bergamot orange  which is used to flavour Earl Grey tea - but it does have a long history of use as a medicinal plant in its native North America.  It's a superb herb to have in a wildlife garden anyway because it is highly attractive to bees and butterflies.  

The petals have a sweet, spicy flavour and go well with salads, rice and pasta, jellies and stuffing.  The flowers, which vary from pink to lavender, can also be used, fresh or dried, to make a zesty herbal tea .....................