Lemon Mint (Monarda citriodora) Growing in the Texas Hill Country: Benefits & Uses

Lemon Mint, or Monarda citriodora, is a wonderful addition to your garden.  It invites and welcomes beautiful butterflies and honey bees as well as herbaceous plant lovers, like you and me.   It's also known as lemon bee balm, purple horsemint, lemon bergamot and lemon horsemint.  Like other Monardas, it is very beneficial to skin care and also helps promote our bodies to fight off colds and flu's. It is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family.  This is my favorite family, I'm just naturally drawn to anything Lamiaceae!

In skin care, Lemon Mint leaves can be rubbed directly on the skin to ward off pesky mosquitoes and other biting flies.  The essential oils of Lemon Mint contain citronellol, which is the reason it is effective at deterring these pesky insects. Citronellol is also used in making perfumes.

The dried herb can be infused in oil (cold oil infusion) and later made into salves and lotions to sooth skin. It is also beneficial when added to facial steams. I would combine it with chamomille and lavender in a facial steam to assist with acne or oily skin.   

Internally, it is beneficial in soothing sore throats and boosting the body's ability to fight off colds and flu's since it also contains thymol-  like other Monardas such as Bee Balm.  Gargling with plants that contain thymol (such as Bee Balm and Thyme) helps fight sore throat and throat infections.  It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. As an herbal tea, Lemon Mint can be sipped and enjoyed to help calm an upset stomach. 

Today, I'm heading to the garden to harvest some Lemon Mint.  I'm going to cut and dry the flowers by hanging them upside down in my kitchen window.  The dried flowers can also be used in floral arrangements but I will be drying the leaves and flowers for herbal infusions. Until nextime :) HCH.

Early Spring In The Hill Country

It's early spring! What a joyous time of year to celebrate green life.  Young herblings are taking hold, wildflowers are ever present and the earth is ready for new plant life.  Our fields are full of vibrant purple verbena that are just now opening their blooms.  I can hardly wait when they are in full bloom.  Last fall, I planted a wildflower mix in the back bed of the garden.  Shown here: Baby Blue Eyes.

Herbhusband and I worked most of the day in the garden today.  We were busy amending the soil, building new raised beds, planting new veggies and herbs and loving the sweet spring sunshine! We use drip irrigation in all of our beds.  In the Texas heat, it keeps the plants well hydrated and reduces water waste. 

Yesterday, I spent a good part of the day at Antique Rose Emporium enjoying all the lovely roses, herbs and veggies. 

I was drawn to pak choy, spring cabbage, Chinese cabbage, dill, fennel, orange mint, lemon balm, jalapeno, artichoke, lettuce, and so much more! I especially had a hard time narrowing down which heirloom tomatoes to plant - I probably ended up getting too many, but that's just fine by me!

I ended up selecting my very favorite high performing heirlooms: black cherry, juliet, black plum and brown berry. These are the most prolific producers and do so well throughout the summer and fall - they are just abundant and beautiful.

My shopping wagon runneth over! I knew when I couldn't fit one more herbling I had to end my scouting adventure.

It's an herbal love affair in early spring - all the new green growth and colorful blossoms are so enticing.  My roses are also budding and blooming.  The first one to bloom in the garden this year is Valentine.  The deep red blooms are a welcome sight!

Here's a list of some of my favorite herbs and veggies to plant this time of year in the Texas Hill Country:
 - onions
 - garlic
 - chives
 - dill
 - fennel
 - lettuce
 - pok choy
 - spring cabbage
 - Chinese cabbage
 - artichoke
 - parsley
 - cilantro
 - mint (any)
 - radishes
 - sage
 - roses
 - calendula
 - yarrow
 - lavender
 - rosemary

I ended up purchasing almost everything on this list (and what I didn't purchase I've been growing from seed in the greenhouse).

Amending the soil with molasses, worm castings, organic blood meal, and compost is extremely beneficial - spending time amending the soil will save you so much heartache and stress down the road.  The healthier the soil, the healthier the beneficial microbes are that fend away hurtful insects and larva.  Plus, plant roots are happier with healthy soil and happy roots = healthy prolific herbs and veggies!

I'm sad the weekend is over - how I will long for Friday when I can spend more time tending to the garden beds.  In the meantime, spring flowers are a welcome sight.  Hurray Spring!