What’s Blooming Now: It’s “Thyme” to Shine

Thanks to balmy temperatures in May, followed by heavy June rains, the gardens at “Thyme on 43rd” are flourishing. This month, it’s Thyme’s time to shine.

Thyme is a genus of about 350 species of aromatic perennial and herbaceous plants. Native to central Europe and the Mediterranean, Thyme thrives in full sun and prefers dry conditions, growing in sandy, not overly rich soil. Its leaves and flowers are highly fragrant and have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. In addition to cooking, the leaves can be used as a disinfectant; Egyptians used thyme for embalming, and in the 20th century, Thyme oil was rubbed on the skin to sterilize wounds.