I read many magazine and newspaper articles about which are the best plants to grow for attracting bees and butter flies, and yet few mention the simple delights of thyme. It is at its very best at the moment, quietly modest in size and often unnoticed over the more exuberant summer blooms, yet there it sits with pretty pink flowers covered by our most coveted insect friends. It is a hardy plant unless you want to grow the smallest alpine species. There are dozens of varieties to choose from many that have culinary uses, insects flock to it, no pest will eat it, and it will grow in difficult soils and is drought resistant. Just give it full sun and you will be rewarded with all these wonderful properties, what's not to love!
This week the house at Norton Conyers is open for the first time in many years, and yesterday was the first day we gardeners have worked with many visitors and a tea room in full swing. Whilst the others went off to cut the meadow I managed to answer a few gardening questions, pick some soft fruit and generally help with visitor enquiries, and thoroughly enjoyed myself to boot!. During the morning we toured the house ourselves to inspect the flower arrangements made up entirely from blooms from the garden, see the picture below of the great hall looking resplendent. The house is only open for this one week, so if you want to visit ring up to book a tour and don't forget to visit the garden afterwards!
"I know a bank where the wild thyme grows"
William Shakespeare
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