Imagine Sweet, Fragrant Garden Scents
Picture a garden on a still summer’s day, heavy with heat and humidity. Hear the sound of birds chirping and bees buzzing about. Let your mind drift as you see the colorful blooms of old fashioned roses, lilacs and gardenias. Imagine a pergola or an arbor draped with jasmine or honeysuckle. If you close your eyes you can almost smell the wonderful fragrance of the garden.
And once you’ve committed these sweet smells to memory, it only takes the slightest whiff of a fragrant garden rose or honeysuckle to bring it all back. The invisible threads that connect all our senses to memory are magical.
Fragrance may be one of the most memorable features of a garden, but it can also be one of the most difficult to describe. The combination of all the scents are unique to that one place and time. The connection between fragrance and memory is undeniable but still difficult to completely comprehend and explain. Consequently, each individual’s perception of scents is distinct.
Plan & Plant Your Fragrant Garden
The scent of flowers such as garden roses, oriental lilies, lily of the valley, jasmine and honeysuckle are sought after by both old and new gardeners. In fact, many gardeners seek out plants based on scent alone. Some plants provide just a hint of scent while others may produce more fragrance than some homeowners are comfortable with. Some plants only produce an aroma when the leaves are crushed. The fragrance of others may only be noticeable at night. While still others may produce fragrance during the hottest part of the day.
Many herbs are aromatic especially when rubbed or crushed. Herbs are attractive additions to the fragrant garden. Some, such as oregano, lavender, rosemary, chives and thyme are ornamental as well as culinary. One of the most fragrant herbs are mint varieties. However, mints as well as thyme will spread and soon take over the garden. These are best planted in containers to maintain control while still enjoying the wonderful fragrance they generate.
In addition to herbs and flowers, there are many fragrant trees and shrubs available that can be included in your garden. The flowers on grandmas lilacs smelled better than perfume. Magnolias and viburnum produce wonderful, sweet fragrance.
While we carefully plan the sequence of bloom times in our garden, orchestrating color from spring until fall, we shouldn’t underestimate the potency of fragrance and the power it holds over memory. Let our staff help you create a landscape that is rich in the aroma of roses, honeysuckle and lilacs. We’ll help you combine flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals and herbs to create a delightful and memorable fragrant garden.