bee balm, Monarda didyma

Flower fireworks! And like exploding fireworks, this one opens from the middle outward. An explosion of red. As pure a red as you will likely see. Bee balm often grows in summer shade, and needs all the brightness it can muster to attract pollinators. In that situation, most flowers go white. Bee balm just goes all in with red. Of course, we all know these are now often in our gardens. Mine are exploding right now in honor of the date. You can see bee balm in CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY(V), OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, NB, ON, and QC. Cultivated, Lenawee Co MI, 7/2/19.