Thyme is a herb that’s fragrant with history and legend. It’s said to be one of the herbs in baby Jesus’s manger; young girls would make a potion with it to help them dream of the man they would marry; and thyme patches are also the best place for seeing fairies.
In the garden, this most ancient of herbs is also among the prettiest, with flowers in pink, white and carmine red: some grow into neat, low hummocks, while other varieties creep like soft carpets over the ground. All are spicily scented and evergreen, delicious in cooking and herbal remedies – try drinking thyme tea to relieve colds and headaches.