THE WILD BERGAMOT

[MARC SELSBY]

A WILD BERGAMOT WAS OBSERVED IN INWOOD PARK UPPER MANHATTAN, ON JULY 26, 2009. THIS MUCH IS CERTAIN.

DAILY NEWSPAPERS REPORTED AN ATAVISTIC APPARITION  RUNNING THROUGH THE PARK. THAT WAS INCORRECT. BIGFOOT DOESN'T VENTURE THIS FAR SOUTH IN THE SUMMER. THE WILD BERGAMOT IS A PLANT.

THE FLOWERS OF THIS VARIETY OF Monarda fistulosa WERE OF A SLIGHTLY FLORESCENT LAVENDER. IT WAS CONSTANTLY ATTENDED BY SMALL BEES, LARGER BEES AND BUTTERFLIES. THERE WAS A WAITING LINE TO SAMPLE ITS MINTY THYMOL RICH NECTAR. THEY SAY HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE THIS PLANT (SOME VAGRANT RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE BEEN SEEN IN FORT TRYON).

HOWEVER WILD BERGAMOT IS RARELY SEEN IN INWOOD PARK, FORT TRYON PARK OR THE CLOISTERS GARDENS ANY MORE. SO WHY IS IT RETURNING NOW? PERHAPS IT WAS DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY RAINY WEATHER? (THYMOL MINT PROTECTS HIVES FROM FUNGI AND MITES). OR PERHAPS THE TERRAIN WAS DISTURBED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION SITES UNDER THE HENRY HUDSON BRIDGE. (THE BERGAMOT'S SHALLOW RUNNER SYSTEM DOES WELL IN DISTURBED AREAS). THE ROAD WHERE THE PLANT WAS SEEN HAD BEEN CLOSED OFF FOR 3 YEARS. PERHAPS WITHOUT HUMANS SOME DIFFERENT MIGRATORY BIRD HAD NESTED THERE.
COULD IT BE NATURE TRYING TO HEAL IT'S OWN, (OR EVEN OUR) DISTURBANCES?
OR MAYBE WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT A STRAY BIRD DISPERSING A SEED. WHO KNOWS WHAT ATTRACTED, REQUIRED OR INVITED THE APPEARANCE OF THE WILD BERGAMOT TO INWOOD PARK. THE INSECTS WOULDN'T SAY.