Soil Testing is Worth the Effort
Lilacs: Time for a Fresh Look
Perfect Edges for Your Beds and Borders
Video: Make a Straw-Bale Garden
Big Flowers from Bigleaf Hydrangeas
10 Perennials Easily Grown from Seed
Off With Their Heads: Deadheading Perennials
25 Robust Summer Bloomers
Friendly Ways to Battle Garden Pests
Design an Engaging Entryway
Viburnums are Versatile Shrubs
How to Grow Raspberries
Building a Compost Bin
All About Starting Seeds
Variegated Plants Create Drama
Garden Catalog Collector
Backyard Makeover Game
Find the Perfect Tomato
A gardener's checklist for early summer
The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow
Enchanting Japanese Maples
Cool-Season Annuals
Make Your Own Hypertufa Container
How to Start a Vegetable Garden
15 Deer-Resistant Plants

READER PHOTO! A lawn of thyme

comments (16) December 6th, 2010 in blogs

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

63 users recommend

Click here to enlarge ths photo.

Photo: Courtesy of Roberta Smith

Add Comment
Print

Today's photos are from Roberta Smith in Cologne, Minnesota. She says, "I have a lot of shrub roses in my front yard. In June when they are all blooming it is quite a sight to see with all the creeping thyme lawn in bloom as well. There are two varieties of thyme. One is 'Annie Hall' (Thymus serpyllum 'Annie Hall', USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9) and I'm not sure of the other as it was mislabeled at the nursery. This thyme lawn originally was seven small plants in 1999 and it has spread and filled in the entire area. It survives the winter just fine here in my west-facing Zone 4 garden with no protection. It likes it hot and dry so another bonus is that I never water it. It's fabulous in bloom in June and is a nice green carpet of lawn that doesn't need mowing the rest of the summer, as it is only about two inches tall." Thanks, Roberta, for sharing your thyme lawn with us!

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog! Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.

READER PHOTOS: We love featuring your photos, too. If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images if possible. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.

posted in: groundcovers, Minnesota, herbs

Add Comment Print

A wonderful lawn-to-woodland transition

Back to List

Ah, the passionflower...

Comments (16)

sheilaschultz writes: What a great idea... perfect for the high desert area of Denver where we are always looking for alternatives to water thirsty grass. (It is so much more lovely than rocks!) Posted: 8:30 pm on December 6th

RobertaSmith writes: PlantingGal, I'm not sure how it would do in your zone. I would recommend that you contact your local extension office or a reputable herb grower in your area. I believe the Annie Hall is the darker thyme. Sounds like you've got a great place for it if it will get lots of sun. Posted: 3:56 pm on December 6th

PlantingGal writes: 'Annie Hall' (Thymus serpyllum 'Annie Hall', USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9) - which is it? The bright pink or pale violet? It would like great in that "no man's land between 2 driveways".
Any idea if it can handle the humidity of the Gulf's zone 9 Posted: 3:21 pm on December 6th

RobertaSmith writes: soilgoil, A couple of times a summer I lift any weeds out with a pointed little pruner that I love to use. They are really easy to see before they get too big because the thyme is so low. And surprisingly with all the plants I have reseeding in my country cottage garden it hasn't been too much of an issue. The corn gluten may take awhile to work. The pointy little pruner tool that I use makes it much easier to do quickly. Posted: 3:20 pm on December 6th

mgervais writes: soilgoil, I wonder if corn gluten would be a good option for you??
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h531cornglutenmeal.html
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/corn-gluten-meal.html

Posted: 2:51 pm on December 6th

soilgoil writes: I moved into a home where wooly thyme had been planted between stepping stones along a garden path. It looks lovely, especially when in bloom, but grasses and weeds readily seed in it and are almost impossible to remove. I've tried carefully dabbing vinegar on each weed to avoid destroying the thyme, but it's a long, long path and painstaking work. Anyone have a better idea? Posted: 1:31 pm on December 6th

RobertaSmith writes: RaleighGardener is wondering about the thyme lawn and deer....I've not had a problem with deer. Posted: 11:27 am on December 6th

RobertaSmith writes: Pat_Tea will be happy to know that it did not take 11 years to fill in. It only took a couple of years and I planted it in 1999. Sorry for any confusion on that! If you want it fuller right away just plant more, you'll probably be able to find someone to share it with later if you need to. :) Posted: 11:22 am on December 6th

rwotzak writes: Beautiful! I swear I'm going to try a patch of thyme lawn in my front yard next year! It's already dry and sandy out there -- I just hope I have enough sun. Posted: 11:00 am on December 6th

Pat_Tea writes: If imitation is the best form of flattery I am going to flatter you. This is a perfect solution to my hill side that leads to my fairy gardens in the woods. Does anyone have any ideas how to get it to fill in faster than 11 years??? Posted: 10:19 am on December 6th

Raleighgardener writes: Do the deer eat this thyme? Posted: 10:02 am on December 6th

RobertaSmith writes: The thyme is planted in poor soil...clay.

wwross in N VA is wondering if it looks ratty when not in bloom.....it always looks really nice, even when not in bloom. Maybe you are thinking of a taller thyme? To tidy it up after blooming you can gently sweep the thyme with a broom. I used to get on my hands and knees and quickly go over it all with my gloved hand....I've discovered the broom works just as well and is much easier on my back. My garden has had large garden tours in July, Aug, & Sept and everyone always loves it! Posted: 9:48 am on December 6th

SunnyDispo writes: What kind of soil is this planted in? I have a rocky bank in back of my house and this would be the perfect solution to my problem. It's just lovely and I love the fairies as well. Posted: 9:31 am on December 6th

wwross writes:
Beatiful. But how does the thyme look the rest of the year, after the couple of weeks of blooming? In Northern Virginia, the thyme is very nice, but then looks ratty and needs to be filled in. Posted: 9:25 am on December 6th

birdwhisperer writes: wow that is so lovely and the angels where can I buy them in canada????? Posted: 9:15 am on December 6th

ncgardener writes: Wow that is so nice and I especially love the fairies. My front lawn is west facing so I may try it on the edge of my rose border.I will definitely add "Annie Hall" to my list of spring plants. Posted: 6:44 am on December 6th

You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog!

Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.

If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images to mgervais@taunton.com with GPOD in the subject line. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.