If I fail to take my evening constitutional through the garden to enjoy the perfume of the moonflowers, I can rely on my dogs to traipse in before bedtime bringing with them a cornucopia of mysterious aromas from their rooting around in the flower beds. Sweet, minty, musky, woody – all the possible fragrances from brushed flowers and bruised leaves are there.
We have visitors to the nursery who specifically ask for scented plants, others who are indifferent, and yet others who seem to avoid them. I myself cannot imagine having a garden without at least some plants or trees which offer this added treat for the senses!
Along with its colour, shape, and even texture, the scent of a flower serves to attract pollinators. Many species of butterflies and moths use scent to guide them to flowers. Bees are guided more by colour than scent, but the perfume stimulates their interest. Beetles (and flies!) seem to be attracted by spicier, fruity fragrances.
Why not take advantage of what Nature offers as she goes about her business? Position fragrant plants close to patios and bedroom or lounge windows – bearing in mind that some perfumes are stronger at night and others in the day.
“Do have lots of scented plants in your garden, especially those with which you have happy associations, for memory enhances life, especially in solitude.”
(From ‘Gardening Letters to my Daughter’ by Anne Scott-James)
IN THE GARDEN
Judging by the open gardens all over the country, it is clear that October is the height of heaven for gardeners as their efforts of the past year come to fruition.
I returned home after two weeks away and sat in awe of how alive our garden is with the colour of all the summer flowering perennials, shrubs and climbers. The hydrangeas are starting to push out buds and blooms, and the alstroemerias delight with their upright stems with beautiful colours. All cares lose their impact when one is surrounded by such beauty.
Every picture tells a story...
Achillea - pink
Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles
Alstroemeria
And more alstroemeria
Geum - Mrs Bradshaw
Lychnis coronaria alba
IN THE NURSERY
Click here to view all the plants in this newsletter on one website page.
Indigenous plants
The summer-flowering Eucomis vandermerwii is a rare deciduous bulb with purple flecked leaves and star-shaped purple flowers with green spots on a cylindrical spike with a crown-shaped tuft of bracts. It is very hardy and makes a good container plant provided it is in full sun.
Euryops chrysanthemoides is a vigorous evergreen perennial with finely divided leaves and the brightest yellow flowers from winter to summer. It is very hardy, grows on average 50cm high and wants full sun.
The torch lily, Kniphofia ensifolia, is a sturdy perennial with erect, deeply keeled grey-green leaves. The tall spikes of creamy lemon-coloured flowers attract birds and insects in spring. Plant in sun to semi-shade and keep the soil moist.
Plectranthus chirindensis is a self-seeding approximately 1.5m high shrub with round tapered grooved leaves and stunning sprays of true-blue flowers in autumn. Evergreen and hardy, it wants a shady position.
Exotic plants
We have a variety of the taller growing Alstromerias in stock. This is a fleshy-rooted deciduous herbaceous perennial with narrow lance-shaped leaves and umbels of showy funnel-shaped flowers which attract bees to the summer garden. It can take sun to semi-shade, and reaches an average height of 70cm.
Buddleja – Blue is a very hardy fast growing shrub with arching shoots, lance-shaped leaves and pyramids of blue flowers from summer to autumn. It grows on average 2m high and wants a sunny position.
With its orangey-mauve flowers from winter to summer, Erysimum cheiri (wallflower) is an old-fashioned favourite among gardeners and bees alike. Evergreen and hardy, it reaches an average height of 70cm and is happiest in part shade.
The fast growing waterwise mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is lovely as a specimen plant or in a border. Deciduous, hardy, and growing on average 2m high, it has scented bell-shaped white flowers in summer. It likes sun to semi-shade and dry sandy soil.
SNIPPETS
It means more than I can say to know that my nursery was in safe hands while I took the opportunity for a special holiday during peak season. There has been nothing but praise for the competent and friendly service (not to mention the diligent care for our plants!) that Sandra and Lebo continued to provide during my absence. I also want to thank my customers for their patience and kindness. We are slowly catching up with mail orders.
My dear friends Robin and Sheryl Berry will launch their new nursery Germinator at Plot 258 Blue Crane Drive in Dullstroom this coming Saturday 2 November. Do support them in you are in the area! We wish them great success with their endeavour.
FUN FACT
Did you know? The sense of smell is the first of all our senses to develop. Even before we are born, our sense of smell is fully formed and functioning. (Source: www.aromaco.co.uk)
Happy gardening!
Leoné
082 482 0257