Just Say No to Abuse Declaring War on Terrorism. The garden of our one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn is like most brownstone gardens - graced with a tree and plenty of shade. That is a blessing if you're talking about an afternoon barbecue on a scorching August day. It is a curse if, like me, you are interested in growing plants that smell and taste wonderful as well as being pretty.
Most plants commonly grown in shade gardens are purely ornamental.
And there are two delicious herbs that will thrive in these conditions and, as a bonus, aren't picky about what kind of soil they're in. One of them will even grace your garden with attractive summer flowers. You could also dry some for use in hot winter teas, although her true fragrance and flavor are at their best in the fresh leaves. In times past, Melissa was used as a cure for melancholy - I have often buried my nose in a fresh bundle of lemon balm leaves and found that I couldn't help but smile. Melissa officinalis is being researched as an effective treatment for cold sores.