Lemon Balm

Finally, the long promised lemon balm post. I planted my lemon balm at the same time as the chamomile and feverfew, but it didn’t take off right away like they did. However, once the lemon balm started to grow, it got very bushy and became a magnet for all sorts of butterflies, moths and bees. At first I was like, “Awww, look at all the pretty flying creatures in the garden!” But then I noticed tons of bite marks on some lemon balm leaves and little black dots on other leaves. I had been really looking forward to using that lemon balm for teas and recipes , but the condition of the leaves is very unappetizing. I am not sure if it is a plant fungus or insect eggs or feces or what, but it is nasty. Sigh.

Apparently, the scent of lemon balm has been used for centuries to calm nerves and elevate mood, so it’s at least it’s still a great addition to our urban garden oasis. It is such an interesting plant and I feel like there is still tons I need to learn about it. Here are some great informative sites I’ve found:

• Encyclopedia of Spices
• Botanical.com
• How to Grow Lemon Balm
• Lemon Balm: 2007 Herb of the Year
• Mosquitoes Hate Lemon Balm
• Herbalpedia: Lemon Balm (pdf)

Related posts:

1. Green Thumb and Black and Blue Toe
2. Blooming Orchids and Chamomile
3. Urban Garden Explosion
4. Urban Gardening
5. A Water-Less Garden

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