Scentsations
Sunshine … last week we had a rare couple of days of near-perfect blue skies – morning-to-evening. After the recent incessant rain, it was great to get out for a walk along the near-by coastal path. The gorse flowers were fully open – cheerful yellow pillowing mounds that will last through to the summer. Their scent filled the air in breezy wafts. Where the path dived down into hollows, the air was heady with their aroma. For those who don’t know, gorse flowers smell slightly of coconut, perhaps with a vanilla touch – an unexpected tropical surprise!
The wild north Morayshire coast changes colour with the seasons. The coastal footpath is slowly being extended - for adventurous walkers!
I had forgotten about the therapeutic effects of aromas. They can help soothe the mind, sometimes calming anxious thoughts. And sure enough, combined with stunning scenery in every direction and the warm sunshine, the scent of gorse carried me somewhere far away. I sat down for a while – not really thinking about anything … just enjoying the beauty. It was if I was breathing in ‘happiness’.
Gorse flowers pack the woody prickly stems - the plant is fantastic for biodiversity of all kinds.
Which started me thinking about how many plants in SeeHow were also chosen for their fragrances, so I thought I would describe a few. Lily-of-the-Valley is one that immediately comes to mind at this time of year, with beautiful white scented flowers in springtime followed by bright red berries in Autumn. It has a long ‘presence’ in the garden and is good on its own in drifts or as an ‘under-storey’ plant below open woody shrubs such as roses.
Convallaria majalis providing under-storey planting below a rose boundary hedge
There are 6 roses listed in SeeHow. Five out of the six were selected because, in addition to perfect colour and bloom quality, they are also fragrant – and fragrant roses combined with their long flowering period, are quite simply hard to beat. Some of SeeHow’s selected varieties can be seen in the rose section at Kew Gardens, London. Wandering through the rose garden in Warsaw’s Botanical Gardens last summer, I remember the alluring scent of Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ – surely one of the best fragrant roses – returning several times to enjoy the aroma. This is the power of fragrance. There are hundreds more scented roses to choose from, from smaller varieties bred for the flowerbed, to climbing varieties that will reach 5m or more and cover a pergola or garden wall. Rosa ‘Roseraie de L’Hay’ is one from SeeHow’s selection which provides fragrant clusters of sumptuous magenta blooms and makes the perfect specimen or hedge.
Rosa ‘Roseraie de L’Hay’ - one of many roses that can be enjoyed at Kew gardens
But I have jumped ahead in the seasons. We are still in springtime. While there are some flowers that have fragrances that are too sweet for me (some Viburnums, Sarcococca, lilies and Nasturtiums as examples), there are many people who love them, so it is all down to individual tastes. But sticking with SeeHow’s plant selection, an early-flowering favourite is the evergreen Daphne odora aureomarginata. I’m lucky to have had first-hand experience growing this plant close to my front door, so the fragrance was enjoyed every day while in flower. It is a beautiful dense specimen shrub all-year-round, with attractive foliage edged with gold. It has very pretty white / pink flowers from late winter into spring that carrying a sublime fragrance. I have come across other Daphnes too in my wanderings and they all appear to have similar captivating fragrances. Some gardeners even regard Daphnes as the ‘world’s most fragrant shrubs’! Hard to argue with. If you have room or one, perhaps also consider the Daphne Bholua which will grow to about 2m.
Daphne odora auriomarginata - my own young specimen in early spring
Wisteria sinensis (also including the white ‘Alba’ version) can provide a stunning scented visual display if allowed to grow freely. Both varieties are in SeeHow. Is there anything finer than finding a historic cottage covered with beautiful, scented purple or white flowers. I have come across gazebos and trellised-walks, almost ‘dripping’ with the stunning racemes and there are splendid examples in many open gardens up and down the land. There is even one in the heart of London’s Chelsea, facing on to the River Thames, that covers the whole façade of one of the 18th century houses - stunning. If allowed to fully grow, this plant can be a real show-stopper and it is fascinating to watch people with their mobile phones, stopping to take the best photos they can … trying to capture the Wisteria magic.
Wisteria sinensis covering a small cottage in the West Berkshire countryside in springtime
It is well-known that gardens and gardening have the power to improve peoples’ moods – even a spot of weeding! But you don’t need to own a garden to enjoy the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of walking amongst flowering plants. They are free to enjoy in parks and also in the many gardens that open their gates at this time of year as part of the, ‘National Gardening Scheme’. Lilacs are a particular favourite for many people, bursting with fragrant flowers at this time of year, that fill the air with their heady aroma. It is just a matter of getting out there.
Syringa shrubs in Warsaw grow to 4m or more and are very popular. They vary from whites, through creams, pinks, mauves and purples. When covered in blossoms their fragrance fills the street. It is easy to forget being in the city.
So, if you can, try to enjoy the sunshine when it appears. Find a place with a view – perhaps some distant, inspiring panorama or maybe just a seat in a local park or public garden. But especially, try find a place where the air is filled with the fragrance of springtime itself. If your lucky enough to have your own garden but don’t have any fragrant plants, why not plant a few this year, to enjoy next year. There are lots of scented daffodils to choose from – easy wins! It is the wonderful ‘aromas’ that have the power to transport our minds – a natural form of therapy that has been used for many millennia. Let all these elements blend together and life’s stresses may fade away, like smoke in the wind.
Scented daffodils planted by a footpath in Aberdeenshire fill the air with their fragrance
The above Text and all Photographs are copyright of Wincenty (Wicek) Sosna. Please contact SeeHow for permission to reproduce in any way, in part or as the complete text.