Phil was bedazzling me with new butterflies and new wildflowers at Hard Labor Creek State Park and Camping Ground, in north-central Georgia. It was August 2015, and the park was both wonderland and new to me.
This rare Monarda, Spotted Bee Balm, stopped me in my tracks. Again and again I looked at these blooms, and thought that they would look more in place on planet Mars, or something.
You don’t get complacent when you’re at the Briar Patch (Putnam County) or at Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge or here in Hard Labor Creek State Park. You can’t because there’s so much that is new and exciting for this Pittsburgh, ‘cum Brooklyn/Long Island guy. Virginia, Rose and Jerry and Phil and Dave W, Thanks for 2015! Now what’s on deck for 2016?
Jeff
Winged Beauty Butterflies 
Monarda punctata
When I first looked at this flower it immediately reminded me of yellow wood betony. Yet I knew it was a monarda. It kept nagging at me so I finally looked it up and lo and behold they are cousins! Both belong to the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family and have square stems and unusual flowers.
A few of Monarda’s cousins are bugle weed, dead nettle, agastache, lavender, rosemary, and thyme
And then she breaks into song ” Are you going to Scarborough Fair” and dances off in the sunlight . . . . searching for butterflies and wildflowers.
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