Is my monarda supposed to be ending its blooming season now?

I'm in zone 5, and this is my first year with a flowering monarda. It's purple, I got it at a plant swap and I don't know of any cultivar. After about 10 days, it's dropping its petals fast, though the foliage is fresh and green. At the same time, the red Jacob Cline monarda I got at the same swap is still lovin' life. Pretty much the same exposure for both, about half & half.

Is this the way the monarda is supposed to behave? If not, is it because of the wierd, wet, cold summer we've had up until now? Or is this normal and it's one of those plants I'm supposed to deadhead or cut back to encourage more blooms?

TIA for help with all my questions regarding one little plant! LOL

Mary

In my experience, monarda don't bloom very long...but they put on a very pretty show while they do. 10 days doesn't sound like a particularly short bloom period for them, although I know some cultivars bloom longer. And, unfortunately, monarda deadheads aren't very attractive, either. I've heard of people getting them to rebloom with deadheading, but it's never worked for me.

I remember being depressed at how short the bloom was, but I've since learned to just enjoy it while it lasts. For the rest of the season, as long as it doesn't get powdery mildew (which monarda is prone to), I enjoy the foliage. I absolutely love the lemony/minty scent of monarda. Every time I walk past it I can't resist pinching off a leaf and sniffing.

Well, I've only just started growing monarda too, and I only have one cultivar, 'Cambridge Scarlet', but I have been very pleased with it. It started blooming at the beginning of July and the blooms are just now beginning to fade, and by fade I mean a few petals are dropping here and there . . . it's still pretty eye-catching! I have noticed some powdery mildew though, and if you get too close the plant in my front yard you'll see quite a bit of bug damage on the foliage, but that's another issue entirely. :( Anyway, maybe some cultivars do bloom longer than others?

The problem is this summer has been so bizarre weather-wise, it's hard to learn what's "normal."

Good thing my mondarda is next to some sedum which will add color soon (I hope), but I'm getting frustrated at having more green and very little color in my beds 90% of the time. Something comes up, blooms for a week, poof. Back to foliage. Eventually one other tiny thing blooms for another week. Hmph.

I may not be cut out for gardening, I don't think I have the right temperament!

Crabgrass~ I shear my monarda about one third down when most of the blooms start to deline..mine will rebloom until frost.....I just sheared mine for the 2nd time this summer. The blooms are not as large as the first blooms, but just as gorgeous and fragrant.