This weeks feature plant: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Zone 4-9

This weeks feature plant is the perennial herb called the Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Zone 4-9. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade and is easy to start from seeds. It has a wonderful lemon aroma that can be enjoyed all summer. Wait for it to be at least 5-6 inches tall to start harvesting. You can dry lemon balm and it will hold its favor well. It has many uses from eating to holistic. For consuming you can add it as a zest of flavor in your salad, make a tea, add it on the side to your main dishes, create a wonderful lemonade, or make a hydrosol. Holistically lemon balm has been reported to calm anxiety, help an upset stomach with a tea or heal sores and insect bites as a poultice.

To make a poultice:

Rip up the lemon balm and mash it with water and place it on.

To make a tea:

Boil water then tip up the lemon balm into small pieces and place in a floating tea infuser.

To make lemonade:

Use cool water and then rip up the lemon balm into small pieces and place in a floating tea infuser and add some honey. For more flavored filled lemonade add some lemon thyme.