Out of all the herbs growing in my garden, Lemon Balm became the first herb in my Herbology Project for a pretty simple reason.
My brain runs about 300 miles an hour most days.
I’m always thinking about the next thing that needs to be done, the next project, the next idea, the next problem to solve. If something doesn’t get finished, it tends to keep running laps through my head until it does. Sometimes I have to remind myself that not everything needs to be solved, finished, or figured out right this minute.
So when I started learning about Lemon Balm, a plant that has long been associated with creating a little more ease and a little less chaos, I was intrigued.
It felt like the perfect place to start.
So I planted it.
Then I started paying attention.
What I Thought I Knew About Lemon Balm
Before this project, I honestly didn’t know much about Lemon Balm. I knew it was part of the mint family. I knew it grew fairly easily. I knew it smelled nice.
That was about it.
Most of my herbal learning in the past focused on herbs used in body care products, oils, and lotions. Now that I’m expanding into teas, tinctures, and other herbal preparations, I realized there were a lot of herbs I wanted to understand better. Lemon Balm was one of them.
The more I researched it, the more I realized this little plant has been appreciated for centuries. People have been growing, harvesting, and working with Lemon Balm far longer than I ever imagined.
One of my favorite discoveries was learning that its botanical name, Melissa officinalis, comes from the Greek word for honeybee. As someone who loves watching pollinators visit the garden, I thought that was pretty fitting.
The Friend Who Wants Everyone to Get Along
If Lemon Balm were a person, it would be the friend who wants everyone to get along.
It doesn’t seem interested in drama.
It doesn’t like chaos.
It just wants everyone to calm down, take a breath, and have a nice afternoon.
Honestly, I think we could all use a friend like that once in a while.
The more I learned about it, the more that personality seemed to fit.
Even the plant itself has a certain presence. It’s bright green. Fresh. Cheerful.
The best way I can describe it is this:
Lemon Balm looks like it just stepped out of the shower and is ready to start the day.
I know that’s probably a strange way to describe a plant, but that’s honestly what comes to mind every time I look at it.
It just looks refreshed.
Growing Lemon Balm in My Garden
Right now, I have Lemon Balm growing in a few different places. A pot outside and one planted in my kitchen window. The one in my kitchen might be my favorite.
Most people probably wouldn’t think twice about that, but I wanted the opportunity to really watch it. Not just grow it, but study it. I wanted to see how it changes from day to day. How the leaves develop, how it responds to watering, how it grows through each stage of its life.
The plant I purchased is doing great so far. My seeds haven’t sprouted yet, but that’s okay. Gardening has a way of teaching patience whether you want the lesson or not. Next year I’ll probably start the seeds indoors before planting season.
For anyone wanting to grow Lemon Balm themselves, my advice is simple:
Water it and watch it.
It’s been one of the easiest herbs I’ve grown so far. And don’t forget to pinch off the flowers if you’re hoping for more leafy growth.
My First Taste of Lemon Balm
One of the first things I wanted to do was try it in tea.
My first blend included Lemon Balm, chamomile, and lavender.
The flavor surprised me.
It wasn’t sweet, and it wasn’t woody or overpowering. It tasted clean. Earthy in a quiet way, with a brightness underneath that I wasn’t expecting. Like something that had just been washed by rain and left in the sun for an hour.
I think a little local honey would pair beautifully with it, both for flavor and because I enjoy supporting local beekeepers whenever I can.
Now, I do have a confession.
I didn’t finish the whole cup.
Not because of the flavor, but because of the floating herbs.
I know some people don’t mind them, but I do.
My new tea pot should be arriving soon, and I’m looking forward to giving it another try without the surprise plant debris floating around in my cup.
What Lemon Balm Is Teaching Me
One of the reasons I wanted to create this Herbology Project was to slow down and truly learn one herb at a time.
Not skim the surface.
Not rush through it.
Not collect random facts just so I can say I learned something.
Actually learn it.
And Lemon Balm has already reminded me of something I probably need to hear more often:
Not everything has to be rushed just to get done.
Sometimes you do the work.
Then you wait.
You water the plant.
You watch it grow.
You pay attention.
And you let things develop in their own time.
For someone whose brain likes to sprint ahead to the next project, that’s not always easy.
But it’s a lesson worth learning.
My hope is that over the next year, Lemon Balm helps remind me to stay out of fight-or-flight mode a little more often and spend a little more time appreciating what’s happening right in front of me.
Why Lemon Balm Was the Perfect First Herb
When I started this project, I wanted to choose a plant I would actually use.
That’s the advice I would give anyone who wants to start learning herbs.
Pick one you’ll use.
Grow it.
Observe it.
Work with it.
Learn from it.
You don’t need twenty herbs to start.
You need one.
For me, that herb is Lemon Balm.
And honestly, I couldn’t have picked a better place to begin.
If this little plant has taught me anything so far, it’s that slowing down long enough to really learn something can be surprisingly rewarding.
And I have a feeling this is only the beginning.
Have You Ever Grown Lemon Balm?
Have you ever grown Lemon Balm? Or if you were going to study one herb this year, which one would you choose?
Drop it in the comments. I’d genuinely love to hear.
