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May
flowers, May pole, May Day, may we, Cinco de Mayo, Mother may I? Mother’s
Day is in May!
It’s
May and I hope this spring has rewarded you with beautiful flowers,
vegetables and herbs.
Use
herbs to add color and functionality to those shrub beds. This month we’ll
take a look at several of my favorite herbs, their purpose in the world of
herbs and their uses in the landscape. The herbs we’ll discuss are all
thymes.
Starting
with groundcovers, there are several varieties of thyme (Thymus sp.)
that are used in rock gardens and outcroppings, between stepping-stones
and as cascading plants from retaining walls. Some of the groundcover
thymes have culinary value. Some of them you just grow for their tiny
blooms or their scents they produce when you step on them.
Creeping
thyme comes in several colors of blooms from white, pink and purple to
true blue. Another creeper is Minus thyme and Elfin thyme. They have a
lemony scent when crushed.
An
unusual thyme to use is Wooly thyme. It is a creeping type with
wooly-looking hairs all over it.
Upright
thymes include: French thyme, English thyme, Lemon thyme, Silver edge
thyme and golden edge thyme, to name a few. These will grow from 4 inches
to 10 inches tall and can cascade when they reach a certain height.
One
other cultivar to look for is Cat thyme. If you have cats, they’ll love
you more for growing this one. Cut a few stems of Cat thyme and give to
your kitty. They’ll play with it for hours!
If
your thyme is a Thymus vulgarus (ssp.), it is a culinary thyme.
Be
sure to shop your local Co-op and ask them to stock your favorite thyme
and consider giving your Momma a basket or pot of thyme.
Thyme
for Momma
For
all the time you took for me, from day one to today.
All
those times you comforted me in your own special way.
For
the times you explained the things I didn’t understand.
And
the times I needed uplifting in spirits, you offered your gentle hand.
Even
as an adult, you’re time is generously offered too.
That
is why, this month, I give this pot of thyme to you.
Happy
Mother’s Day and happy gardening.
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