Summer’s heat is at full boil, the garden’s bounty is filling baskets and bellies and the Lobelias are blooming. Must be August in Appalachia. Such a serious month, August, filled with trips to the local rivers, lakes, swimming holes and waterfalls, sunset picnics on the parkway and an embarrassing abundance of blooms and plant growth.
Amid the many shades of green in the woods and meadows this time of year, a shock of vibrant color will always stand out and catch my eye. This often happens when I’m driving, prompting either 45 mph roadside wildflower identification or, if time and safety allow, a quick turnaround to try and figure out what it is.
Yellow, orange and white are the most common wildflower colors of summer, so when my eye is drawn to patches of red or blue, they stand out and invite further exploration. Sometimes the red is that of scarlet bee balm, also known as wild bergamot or Oswego tea (Monarda didyma).
