Until recently I had no idea why they call this pretty little bloomer monkey flower; I thought it deserved better. Some people say if you squeeze the bottom of the bloom, the flower opens and closes, resembling a monkey. It’s still a stretch for me to find the humor in that. The genus name, mimulus, doesn’t really do the magical flowers justice either. But they do make me smile, and I’m among the first looking for them in nurseries in late winter/early spring.

Monkey flower is one of those cool-season annuals that bloom their heads off and distract us from the “dead” spots winter has left in the garden.

It is a smallish plant, 8 to 12 inches tall, depending on the variety. But the velvety flowers are 2 to 3 inches across. The orange, red, yellow, maroon and cream blooms are often streaked and spotted.

Plant in sun to part shade in a moist, well-draining soil. One or two will perk up a pot. Alternatively, plant three in a hanging basket, or plant them in mass at the front of your spring beds for greater impact.

source : www.chron.com By KATHY HUBER