Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

This week it’s:

THE herbs parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme – some of the most commonly used kitchen herbs – are mentioned in the lyrics of the traditional English ballad Scarborough Fair. The song, with its familiar melody, has been recorded by many artistes over the years, arguably most famously by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, although its origins date back to the 1600s.

Anyway, as a youngster I listened to the song, and not only did it introduce me to these herbs, but also to herbs in general. Indeed, these four were the first herbs I grew, and I have grown them pretty much continuously for the past 40 years. Let’s take a look at stories involving each of them.

▪ Odd one out: Three of these four herbs are related to each other – so which is the odd one