Looking a little patriotic toward the end of May with Upscale Red Velvet monarda or beebalm, white Easter lilies and Rockin Playin' The Blues salvia. Pyromania Backdraft red hot poker gives a rocket look in the background. [Norman Winter/TNS]

As I look back at this gardening year, one of the plants I enjoyed the most was the Upscaled Red Velvet monarda or beebalm. I am in my third year growing the fairly new variety, and it is just getting better and better. Like countless others before me have said, the third year is like magic.