| Thymus is a genus of over 400 species of aromatic | | | | into battle with sprigs of thyme embroidered into |
| hardy and non-hardy perennials with very small, | | | | their scarves. Shakespeare speaks of thyme in A |
| fragrant leaves and twiggy stems. Thymes are | | | | Midsummer Night's Dream: |
| native to Mediterranean Europe, as far as the British | | | | "I know a bank where the wild thyme grows", says |
| Isles. These wonderful herbs have long been | | | | King Overon, king of the fairies. |
| cultivated for their neat and orderly appearance in | | | | Thyme [ is an easy herb to grow; all thymes need |
| the container, border, rock garden and dry walls. The | | | | full sun and dry, light, well-draining soil. If grown in too |
| creeping varieties are excellent as ground covers or | | | | rich soil, the plant tends to grow excessively and |
| fill in between pavers. Thymes grow wild on the | | | | makes the plant susceptible to disease and winterkill. |
| hillsides in Greece and well-known in the ancient world. | | | | Keep thymes well cut back in the growing season so |
| Sumerians used it as a medicinal herb, and Egyptians | | | | that they do not get too woody. Once the plant |
| used it as an ingredient in mummification. Thyme was | | | | develops an open center, either divide the plant or |
| used by the Greeks as a temple incense; the word | | | | replace. If growing in a humid area, watch for fungus. |
| thyme comes from a Greek word meaning "to | | | | They do not like "wet feet"! Thyme does grow well |
| fumigate". The Greeks and Romans used hyme for | | | | indoors on a sunny windowsill. |
| its healing properties. It was thought to be an | | | | Thyme is a major culinary herb and has a wonderful |
| aphrodisiac and was enthusiastically strewn around | | | | aroma. You can use thyme in a multitude of dishes, |
| banquet halls in the Middle Ages! Thyme was | | | | either fresh or dried. Harvest the leafy tops and |
| considered to be a symbol of courage, knights rode | | | | flower clusters. |