Garden Stories

Peg Cherre — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:42:23 +0000

If a home garden is your nature indulgence of choice, check out Peg Cherre’s recent posts about a peony that didn’t bloom for 12 years and a great regional resource, particularly for fruit.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Reviving My Senses – Smell

Peg Cherre — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:51:21 +0000

It’s a bit trickier to capture smell in a photograph. Some of these scents I’m sure you’ll know, others may not be as familiar. If you have a chance, let your nose wander by these olfactory lovelies at the right time of day. You’ll be glad you did.

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

The blooms on this alien, which can be quite invasive, are not particularly showy, but the scent is powerful. I think early morning is the strongest, but late evening is also good.

Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

To me, Dame’s Rocket smells much like lilacs. Again, I think early morning is the strongest scent.

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Trust me, I know how much of a problem the invasive multiflora rose can be, but it wafts a lovely scent across the air in the morning.

Old-Fashioned Shrub Rose (Rosa)

This prolific producer smells great in my garden all day long – better on sunny days than rainy ones.

Peony (Paeonia)

I like early and late in the day to catch my peonies’ aroma.

Variegated Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera pericyclemenum Harlequin)

Related to the invasive honeysuckle shrub, the vine looks like a different plant. And this variegated variety smells AMAZING in the early morning and late evening. In the middle of the day – nothing.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)

True to its name, this garden lovely smells sweet most of the day.

It’s your turn – what’s reviving YOUR sense of smell this spring?

by Peg Cherre, Executive Director

Pfeiffer Nature Center & Foundation » peony

Garden Stories

Reviving My Senses – Smell