Our herb walk with herbalist Diana Baron fell on a gorgeous late spring evening and revealed a big food surprise: daisies! How did I not know this?The buds, leaves, and stems of daisies have a subtle, herbish flavor and crisp texture. Salads will never be the same.
That’s me, having a daisy epiphany. 
Who will enjoy these tidbits first—us or the deer?
We’re smelling and tasting gently fragrant lemon balm, which we grow in a box in the garden’s culinary herb plot. Lemon balm has an uplifting effect on the nervous system and soothes upset guts.
We voted chamomile off the island in favor of more garlic. We were happy the chamomile found a way to stay. Chamomile is soothing and anti-inflammatory, internally and externally. It can be used as a compress to reduce skin or eye irritation, as a bedtime tea, and even as an aromatic digestive bitter.
Stinging nettles and horseradish in pots 
Who will touch the stinging nettles? Most of us did. Stroking the leaves with the stingers (and not driving the wrong way over the spikes!) makes all the difference. The sting of nettles is both temporary and therapeutic.
What’s this growing outside the fence? 
It’s yarrow, which grows prolifically around here.
Yarrow leaves are finely divided. The leaves and flowers make a great first aid herb for cleaning wounds and stopping bleeding (styptic).
