[Damselfly]

Well, I'm in a different region of the country from you so everything that grows easily here may not grow as easily there. Still, there should be some overlap. These are some of my favorite herbs which are relatively easy to grow.

Yarrow is one of my favorite herbs because of its versatility and it is one of my must-have herbs. I have planted it but I always seem to find it growing in the yard on its own as well. I use yarrow tincture to clean wounds and stop bleeding and as an insect repellent. I use yarrow compresses (cloths soaked in strong, strained herbal tea) for sprains and even breaks. I have used yarrow to slow excessive menstrual bleeding. I use the dried herb in my tea for colds. Once I soaked my feet in a strong tea bath of it to get rid of athlete's foot.

Mint is another easy to grow, versatile herb. I use it in tea for colds and also in tea for stomach issues. It adds a pleasant flavor to other less pleasant medicinal herbs.

I use catnip tea when I need to calm frayed nerves, help bring on sleep, soothe upset stomachs, ease pain, relieve headaches or bring down fevers. I grow it in containers which seems to discourage the neighborhood cats from bothering it.

Some common yard plants which I find really valuable are chickweed, lambsquarters, plantain and dandelion. If you're interested in using wild plants you may have a head start on your herb garden already. Purslane often grows wild, at least around here. It is a succulent plant which is sometimes featured in Italian cooking. I use it as food and I haven't heard of it used medicinally much in modern herbalism but it is reported to have cooling qualities.

I haven't found chamomile easy to grow but that's because this area is extremely hot and dry. I do use chamomile as a relaxing tea. I also include it in my blend for stomach aches and my blend for headaches. Herbalists consider it an antispasmodic which means it soothes muscular spasms.