Thyme

Earlier this week I posted about growing Yarrow to fill in the spaces between the flagstone patio. The second most successful plant that takes up space between the stones on that patio is Thyme. Like many herbs, Thyme "thrives on neglect." By that I mean Thyme likes dry conditions so you don't have to water it, unless there is extreme drought. And even then, it only needs a little water. Thyme also likes rocky soil. Hot conditions also are Thyme's friend. So, it is the perfect plant to fill in spaces between rocks or to edge a border.

In late summer, Thyme sends up fragrant lavender colored flowers which attract bees. You can harvest Thyme year round. Just clip a few sprigs.

Thyme is nice in marinades or sauces. Just tie up a bunch of Thyme with a string and toss it in your sauce. Fish it out when you're done cooking. Thyme leaves are nice in salad dressings, too.

Thyme is easy to dry and store. Just tie up some sprigs and store them in a cool, dry place like a shed or a basement. Once dry, store in an airtight mason jar. You can also dry Thyme in the oven. Remember to set the oven on its lowest setting and spead the Thyme in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Check often and take out when the leaves feel dry.

Thyme will spread, as you can see from the pictures above. We started with a couple of plants and now have Thyme in an area over two hundred square feet, maybe more. If you don't want your Thyme to take over, plant it in a container, but remember to give it a spot with plenty of sun.