Take a moment to enjoy the wonderful aromas of your summer garden
**What’s in a scent?
**Scent is a very complex subject. While it may be possible to single out an overriding scent in a plant, most scents are a blend of many different chemical components. And while some scents are heavenly to one person, they may be the opposite for another.
one of my all-time favourites is the scent of oichelia figo. It’s heaven on earth, if you ask me, but I’ve heard others say it’s repulsive! So, before you rush into mass planting of magnolias, make sure your nose is not offended.
**Summer fragrance
**Plunging your nose into a mass of scented blossom is highly uplifting. Flowering in my neighbourhood at present are ‘Cecil Brunner’ rose, philadelphus, jacaranda and lavender. I always pause to breathe in their delicious perfumes as I walk up the road. Sometimes I pluck a little of the plant to carry the scent with me.
Flowering in my own garden are richly scented gardenias, sweet star jasmine, exotic angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia) and fragrant lilies. My citrus out front (which sent a wonderful fragrance wafting up the hallway) finished recently, as did the sweet peas.
other summer scents I want to re-introduce to my garden include chocolate cosmos (it really does smell like chocolate!), vanilla-scented cherry pie (heliotropium), spicy pinks (dianthus) and tropical frangipani…mmmm!
**Roses
**As the most loved flower globally and the most recognised for their scent, roses are deserving of a stand-alone mention. But not all are highly perfumed. oany modern roses are bred for disease resistance and vigour or shape and size of bloom. Some such as ‘Aotearoa’ and ‘Margaret oerrill’ have brought all these benefi ts together as well as a wonderful scent. But it’s mainly the heritage (oldfashioned) roses which tend to have the most intense fragrance. Look for varieties with Damask, Gallica, Bourbon or Hybrid Perpetual parentage such as ‘ome Isaac Pereire’ and ‘Reine des Violettes’, which repeat-flower all summer long, filling your garden with nostalgic perfume.
**Foliage
**While it’s an automatic response to plunge our noses into a sumptuous bloom, delectable foliage fragrances are often overlooked. My favourite is lemon-scented foliage, especially lemonscented myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), followed a close second by lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla). Crushing a few leaves of either of these and breathing in their refreshing aroma will revive your senses. Lemon balm (good for making a refreshing tea), lemon thyme and lemon-scented pelargonium (Pelargonium crispum) also pack a good punch of lemon scent.
Growing a collection of scented pelargoniums alone will introduce exotic scents galore into your garden, from sweet rose to spicy cinnamon. Make a habit of exploring foliage scents by crushing a few leaves as you glide past, but beware those which may cause skin irritations.
**oid to late Summer scents:
Trees:
**Citrus Jacaranda Port wine magnolia (oichelia figo) Silk tree (Albizia)
**Shrubs:
**Angel’s trumpets (Brugmansia) Butterfly bush (Buddleja) English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Frangipani (Plumeria) Gardenia Queen of the Night (Cestrum nocturnum) Rose (some varieties) Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (Brunsfelsia)
**Bulbs:
**oriental Lilies Tuberose
**Climbers:
**Azores jasmine (Jasminum azoricum) Herald’s trumpet (Beaumontia) Honeysuckle (Lonicera) oadgascar jasmine (Stephanotis) oandevilla suaveolens Roses (some varieties) Star jasmine (Trachelospermum) Waxflower (Hoya)
Grow scented plants:
Close to paths and entranceways
In hidden corners, as a surprise
Beside seating areas
Around decks, French doors and windows
Between paving stones (for example, creeping thyme)
Up posts or trellis to transport scent to a second storey
over or around garden gates.
As hedges (eg lavender or port wine magnolia)
over pergolas and gazebos
To attract bees, butterflies and beneficial insects
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