Herb of the Month: Thyme

Thyme, the Namesake of this Blog, as Herb of the Month

Each month, an herb shines in the spotlight: its scent, flavor, even literary associations may make it a candidate for adulation. This month, thyme, also known as Thymus vulgaris, takes the stage.

Thyme is a tiny plant with a bold flavor and scent. In the herb garden, thyme, a perennial,  is easy to grow: just plant it in a reasonably sunny area and water it occasionally. Bees love thyme, so this is a good herb to encourage bee populations--an important consideration in the increasing times of bee colony collapse.

"Thymus vulgaris 001" by H. Zell - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymus_vulgaris_001.JPG#mediaviewer/File:Thymus_vulgaris_001.JPG

For such a small herb, thyme has a pronounced flavor. Try this herb added to poultry, soups, and stews: perfect for the emerging colder weather. In addition, I like to saute tomatoes with thyme and black pepper for an intriguing side dish.

"Thymus vulgaris". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thymus_vulgaris.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Thymus_vulgaris.jpg

Medicinally, this herb contains thymol, which has antiseptic properties. For this reason, many natural mouthwashes contain the essential oil of thyme. Thyme can also be used to treat bronchitis and other infections.

For its versatility and beauty, thyme deserves its place as herb of the month. Enjoy, and bon appetit! 

Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry That Inspire the Love of Gardening

Gardening and Literary Inspiration: Read On! 

At this time of year, when the summer garden is all but spent and the fall garden is still but a dream, we need all the inspiration we can get. Literature can provide that inspiration, in spades (pun intended)

Fiction and Nonfiction Books that Inspire the Love of Gardening

Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Diary of a Worm, by Doreen Cronin

The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies, by Cicely Mary Barker

In The Garden Trilogy: Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily, by Nora Roberts

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns, by Margaret Dilloway

The Inward Garden: Creating a Place of Beauty and Meaning, by Julie Moir Messervy

The Red Garden, by Alice Hoffman

The Ruth Stout No-Work Garden Book, by Ruth Stout

A Hoe Lot of Trouble, by Heather Webber

Garden of Secrets Past, by Anthony Eglin

Night Gardening, by E. L. Swann

Forget Me Not, by Isabel Wolf

The Memory Garden, by Mary Rickert

The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton

Death in the Orchid Garden, by Ann Ripley

Garden of Madness, by Tracy L. Higley

The Star Garden, by Nancy E. Turner

Tomorrow's Garden, by Amanda Cabot

Buckingham Palace Gardens, by Anne Perry

The Dark Garden, by Eden Bradley

In the Garden of Stone, by Susan Tekulve

Walden, or, Life in the Woods, by Henry David Thoreau

Short Stories with a Gardening Emphasis

"Rappaccini's Daughter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne

"The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck

"A Rose for Emily," by William Faulkner (okay, this one is a stretch: enjoy the story anyway)

"The Garden Party," by Katherine Mansfield

"The Occasional Garden," by Saki

"The Garden of Forking Paths," by Jorge Luis Borges

Poetry with a Gardening Theme

"The Garden," by Andrew Marvell

Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

"La Belle Dame Sans Merci," by John Keats

"The Daffodils," by William Wordsworth

"This Lime Tree Bower my Prison," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"The Gardener," by Robert Louis Stevenson

"The Deserted Garden," by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"This is the garden: colors come and go," by e.e. cummings

"The Little Garden," by Amy Lowell



Here's to inspiration: happy reading!

By Simon Speed (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Pie of the Month: Lemon-Lime Pie

Each month a certain pie--usually a dessert, rather than savory, pie--is showcased. This month, we have the lemon-lime pie, one which does not require much baking time and is served chilled--a boon in my neck of the woods, since September is usually still quite warm, with highs in the 90s during the day.

This recipe makes two pies, enough to treat a large household.

Lemon-Lime Pie

2 graham cracker crusts
12 egg yolks
2 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup lime juice
whipped cream or whipped topping for decoration (optional)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the prepared graham cracker crusts for ten minutes; this will help prevent the crusts from getting soggy.

Lemon-Lime Pie, Unadorned

Gently beat the egg yolks and then stir in the condensed milk. Gradually incorporate in the juices, stirring often. Fill the pie crusts and then bake for 30 minutes. Cool the pies completely for several hours; finish the cooling process in the refrigerator. Right before serving, if desired, decorate the pies with whipped cream or topping.

Lemon-Lime Pie, Decorated

Bon appetit!