Gunter's 3 Garden It’s time for thyme Since ancient times, people have been intrigued by the herb ” thyme because they could not discern the difference between 3 thymus ‘vulgaris, common thyme, and ‘thymus praecox, - subspecie arcticus, known as creeping thyme, ‘mountain ” thyme and mother of thyme. ‘A perennial, thyme is a small, many branched and aromatic - shrub. Flowers are numerous and tubular, form small ter- - minal clusters and are lilac to pink in colour. Leaves are opposite, oblong and nearly stalkless. Their " edges are rolled under and the undersides are pale and hairy. Because of its growth habit, creeping thyme likes to bed in "crevices, preferably on terraced gardens. Herbalists of old . mentioned both in their writings. Knights departing for the Crusades were given scarves em- " broidered with sprigs of thyme by their ladies because it was believed the plant symbolized courage. It was atso believed tea made from its leaves would prevent nightmares and that consuming this tea enabled one to see nymphs and fairies. The name thyme has been traced to twa possible sources. One is the Greek word for courage, thymus. This is really fit- ting for an herb which is so invigorating to man’s senses. The other is from the Greek words for ‘‘to fumigate’’. That again would be fitting as people used to burn this herb to get rid their homes of stinging insects. . a ‘Thyme has been a symbol for many societies: elegance to the early Greeks, chilvalry in medieval times and the republican spirit during the French Revolution. It was and is still being used to flavour liquers and cheeses. A Greek apothecary discovered thymol, a strong disinfec- tant derived from the oil of thmye and effective in treating bacteria: and fungi. Thyme was iused to fight the plagues of the Middle Ages and its essential oils were successfully used as an antiseptic in treating wounds during World War I. Medicinal uses oy Thyme serves as a carminative, vermifuge, rubefacient and | antiseptic. It has antispasmodic qualities-and tends to relieve asthma, whooping cough and stomach cramps. ; Herbalists recommend thyme for the relief of flatulence, colic and headaches. An infusion of thyme, taken often and up to two cups a day, can relieve most throat and. bronchial problems. Herbalists also recommend thyme tea to ease stomach and intestinal ailments. (es have given these findings some credibility, but see ..}. - : ¥o ur doctor before’undertaking“enty, cure, with:thiyme: ‘Thymol, the essence of thmye, can cause dizziness, diar- rhea, nausea, headaches and vomiting if taken in its pure form. Culinary uses If you find yourself standing in front of your stove, not knowing which spice or herb to use in your cooking, add thyme. At least it will give your creation zest and aroma. You can’t go wrong with thyme because it blends well with all kinds of foods and other herbs and spices. It is one of the finest herbs in French cuisine and is also one of the most often used herbs in Creole and Cajun cooking. The first European settlers brought thyme to the Americas and it is now growing wild in many parts of the continent. | TRAVEL TALK wae AWORLD OF GOLF. /¢ ARIZONA PHOENIX — TUCSON 4% — SCOTTSDALE (7% Life In Arizona revolves around the cer- tainty of one thing...the sun! This resort mecca boasts more sun filled days than any other part of the country. It is the sun | that Inspires the casual southern lifastyte. — Arizona — the unique blend of a thriv- “= ing, upbeat lifestyle and superb desert dal beauty...elegant resorts, beautiful hotels on [LAL \ and fine dining...A taste of the oid west G5=" combined with a multitude of recreational