Bee balm/ monarda fistulosa
Monarda fistulosa or bee balm or wild bergamot, a humble and powerful plant that graces us with its beauty. It stands tall, like it’s reaching for the sun, and then blesses us with the most gorgeous pale purple/pink flowers. A prairie plant, I’ve seen it growing in the open and along rivers.
I learned from jim mcdonald that bee balm can help us release passions that may be stuck or dormant inside of us. It can also be brewed on the stovetop after an argument, and helps diffuse the tension.
When I collected the flowers to do just that, and gave the handful a gentle squeeze, they felt so pillowy, like they have the capacity to hold stuff/people. The silky feel of the flowering tops was comforting to the touch.
Monarda fistulosa is a very aromatic plant - it is stimulating, relaxing, anti-inflammatory & anti-microbial.
I learned from Linda Conroy to grind up the flowers and leaves in a coffee grinder, and use the powder in a rub on venison. I do an even simpler version - i just crumble up some flowers/leaves and sprinkle it over the meat as it cooks.
Recipe for venison roast with monarda seasoning:
I take the venison roast out of the freezer,
let it thaw for just a little bit (10-30 minutes) - if it thaws too long it won’t be easy to slice thin,
put your pan on the stovetop on medium or medium-high heat and add olive oil or butter & a sliced onion (you could also add mushrooms or other delicious things :))
cut the venison into 1/4” slices
when the vegetables are almost cooked to your liking, add venison slices to pan
sprinkle generously with salt, pepper & crumbled monarda flowers & leaves
flip meat/ move meat around in pan so that both sides of each piece cooks, it only takes about 2-4 minutes total
right when the blood color disappears or as it’s almost gone, the meat is done! (Don’t overcook it!)
Thank you Monarda for bringing your color into the world. Thank you for reminding me what it feels to be held by something soft and welcoming.
When in full flower, monarda feels very fluffy and welcoming
