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By midday, they moved on to blue star amsonia, Little Trudy catmint, sea holly and pasqueflower, which bloomed early in the season and provided food to pollinators building their nests.

I questioned Mom about the purple-blossomed plants waving in the breeze between us and the placid water of north Lake Union — catmint, she said, as a bee also investigated.

After flowering, catmint can be trimmed back by one-third or more to prevent flopping.

Think swathes of catmint, field scabious and hyssop.

Or grilled Manila clams with a rich green garlic emulsion under a blanket of bolted fava shoots and catmint flowers — a super-delicious meeting of garden and shore.