Thyme the herb of courage

Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley and bay leaves to make a bouquet garni, adds a distinctive aromatic flavouring to meats, poultry, stews, sauces, and stuffing. Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as cooking thyme, English thyme, French thyme, or winter thyme is just one of the 350 species of the genus Thymus. Often called the ‘herb of courage,’ garden thyme can be grown indoors or out. Thyme is a shrubby perennial with small, oval, narrow, grey-green leaves, long, woody, branched stems, and sturdy roots. This plant blooms in mid-summer and has lavender-pink flowers that occur in small clusters. The flowers attract bees and the honey produced is highly valued. The leaves are very aromatic. Leaves, stems, and flowers may all be eaten. Garden thyme grows 6 – 20 inches (15 – 50 cm) tall, prefers light, well-drained soil, and full sun. Allow soil to dry between waterings, as this plant is susceptible to root rot and will not survive long in heavy wet soils. Thyme can be propagated by stem cuttings, seeds, and layering. Pot outdoor plants for bringing indoors in the fall. Check for insects and spray with a soap and water spray if required. Indoor plants require at least 5 hours of strong sunlight a day. If placed on a windowsill, turn plants frequently to ensure all sides receive equal exposure to the light. If growing under fluorescents, hang lights 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day. In the garden, plant thyme anywhere as it deters cabbageworm and accents the aromatic qualities of other plants and herbs. In the kitchen, thyme is often used in sausage and other fatty foods such as lamb, pork, duck, or goose as it aids in the digestive process. Generally speaking, in the kitchen, dried thyme is used, as it is preferred for cooking. This herb enhances the flavour of tomato sauces, casseroles, soup, spaghetti sauce, eggs, potatoes, fish, green vegetables, chowders, seafood of all kinds, breads, roasted meats, marinades for meats, plain rice, and tea. Thyme is especially good in recipes that call for long, slow cooking as it is one of the few herbs that does not lose flavour in cooking, so can be added early. Sprigs can be placed in the water of steamed or boiled vegetables, or used to make thyme-scented vinegar or oil. Fresh leaves and flowers can be used in tossed green salads, and use the leaves, fresh or dried, for butter and cooking oil. Strip the leaves from stems when using fresh. Chopped fresh leaves are much more pungent than dried so use sparingly if substituting for dried in a recipe. The dried flowers and/or leaves are often combined with rosemary and spearmint to make an aromatic tea said to be useful for calming the nerves and soothing headaches. Thyme can be preserved by freezing or drying. To dry, lay the stems of thyme flat or hang them in bunches in a shady, dry location. Strip the dry leaves from the stems and store in an airtight container. To freeze, lie on a cookie pan, freeze, store in airtight freezer bags, and use as required. Bouquet Garni 2 sprigs parsley 1 sprig thyme Tie together with white string, immerse in cooking liquid, and remove before serving. Bouquet garni are flavouring agents composed of herbs tied together and immersed in liquids, early in the process of cooking to enhance the flavour of dishes such as soups, stews, and some vegetables. You can make bouquet garni ahead-of-time and preserve their flavour by tying in bundles, place in plastic bags, label and date them, and freeze for later use.

Looking after your rose garden

There are a lot of things to consider in keeping a beautiful rose garden. If you are just starting out planting your own garden, there might be many things you still need to know and find out. Taking care of your garden is not difficult, but it does require some special care and maintenance. Caring for your rose garden is essential in order to grow full blooms. Should your roses not bloom there can be any number of reasons. You should first consider the position of your rose garden. Make sure that your roses are planted in an open area and can get morning sun. It is important to have your rose garden exposed to at least six hours of sunlight throughout the day. Too much shade may cause your roses to be unhealthy. Make sure that your garden has a sufficient supply of water. For ease your garden should be placed in an area which is near your source of water. It should be watered at least one inch per week in the growing season. However, take care not to over water as this can lead your roses to die. If your roses are not performing well, check your garden for over-watering. Proper drainage should be put in place so that your roses are not left in standing water. Make sure that your garden is properly fertilized. This will keep your roses growing healthy and upright. But be careful not to overdo the fertilizer because it contains concentrated chemicals, especially Nitrogen. If this happens, the plant may be damaged and can grow unwanted extra leaves instead of blooms. To keep your garden healthy, use a fertilizer with the right ratio of nutrients. This will balance the growth of the roses and maintain the nutrients of the soil in your garden. Check if your garden has enough foliage. If the bush you are growing does not have enough foliage, it will not produce the food the plant needs to make flowers. All your hard work and waiting will be wasted. Inadequate foliage or fertilizer can also result in some diseases. The most important factor in looking after your rose garden is determining if the soil pH is balanced. You should know if it is too low or too high. If it is not in the right range for your rose variety, don’t expect that your roses to have maximum blooms. If it lacks nutrients, the plants will not be able to complete the formation of flowers. It is essential to look after your rose garden to monitor your plants and if the soil is providing the roses with the enough nutrients. If you take good-care of your garden, you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms.