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Mark Diacono's avatar

Marvellous! I can't bring myself to grow lemon balm (though some appears, uninvited, here and there) but I do have orange balm and while it will never enter my kitchen, I love its year round presence and the perfume it leaves on my hands. thank you for a fine sunday read

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Andrew Timothy O'Brien's avatar

Ooh I've never grown that! It's just a variety of lemon balm, isn't it? Might have to get myself a plant this year. 🍊

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Jo Thompson's avatar

You're going to have to really convince me on this one my friend 🤣 I made the fatal mistake of letting lemon balm get a hold of a bed and am still digging out its woody stems .... BUT, although the taste of the leaves is weird, I'm convinced a 'tisane' with their leaves keeps my hay fever away. I've researched it everywhere and can't find any mention, but it totally works for me and the years I don't do it, I get hay fever....

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Andrew Timothy O'Brien's avatar

I think you've hit the nail on the head of course, Jo – you have to let it go quite a way for it to take hold so! 🤣 I've got previous on letting things go rampant, as you know, and even I've not managed to let it take over. I say that now, which is probably inviting fate for 2025. Look out for my Lemon Balm Farm and Patent Hay Fever Remedy! 🤧 PFAF has a whopping list of medicinal uses, doesn't it?

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Frances's avatar

If this isn't enough to persuade us to leave well alone,I don't know what is. Beautifully described, Andrew.

Franny

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Andrew Timothy O'Brien's avatar

Aw thanks Franny! I should pop out and see what it looks like with a dusting of snow, but it's late and cold and dark! Probably be gone by the morning. ❄️

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