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Photo Credit: Judith K. Mehl

Brew a relaxing tea by boiling water and pouring over a teaspoon of dried or fresh leaves or flowers. Sip slowly in a tranquil setting.

Growing a relaxation garden can be a tranquil and soothing experience. By providing a calming background (like sounds of moving water and wind chimes), you’ll enjoy the soporific effects of herbs even while working in the cool earth. But the true benefits of your garden will come from the teas, sleep pillows and bath bags you can make from your herbal harvest.

Some herbs to consider for your special garden include chamomile (Matricaria recutita), lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). These can be found in your average culinary garden and can be put to use if you don’t have room for a separate relaxation garden. Hops (Humulus lupulus) makes a wonderful addition to any relaxation garden, too. Its cone-like female flowers are a useful sleep remedy, though they have a bitter taste and aroma. For happier dreams, combine these flowers with sweeter, more fragrant ones.

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Photo Credit: Aubrey Hicks

Hops is a tall perennial vine that grows well in a wide variety of soils, but it needs a tall pole or trellis system to climb.

All of these herbs are perennials outdoors in USDA hardiness Zone 5 and up, except chamomile, which is an annual. Some lavender isn’t very hardy in Zone 5 or above, so do check before you buy. Lemon balm will grow in Zone 4 or higher, and hops can withstand Zone 2 temperatures.

Lemon balm needs a little extra attention but is well-worth it for its calming properties and wonderful scent. In dry, hot climates, this herb grows best in partial shade. Be sure to harvest the lemony leaves before the plant flowers, and dry them quickly to retain as much fragrance as possible. If the foliage takes more than two days to dry, it’ll turn black.

One of the best concoctions to make from your relaxation garden harvest is herbal tea. But do remember such teas are for short-term use only. Don’t drink them every day, all day. With that in mind, brew up some delicious and calming cups of tea with herbs like chamomile and lemon balm. Chamomile is purported to have a relaxing effect on the digestive and nervous systems. (You’ll want to steep the chamomile flowers for no more than 10 minutes to avoid a bitter taste). Lemon balm adds a nice citrus flavor and aroma that’s good for calming tummy aches, and it’ll relax your on-the-go brain with its mildly sedating effects.