Scented plants

I love scented plants, Honeysuckle, Pinks, Pelargoniums, and, of course, Roses.  My favourite, though, probably has to be scented pelargoniums.  Although I was told many years ago that the flowers are insignificant on scented Pelargoniums, I have not found this to be the case.  It is true that they are not flamboyant, but they are pretty, and the Coca-Cola scented variety that I have is a particularly bright purple/pink colour.  Even the lemon scented variety has an attractive lilac/purple flower together with very attractive foliage.  I currently have a very small selection.  I have Lemon scented, Clorinda, which is balsam scented, Attar of Roses, which I have to admit I am not overly keen on. I am not sure if my plant was mis labelled as it does not smell as wonderful as I was led to believe.  I also have a cola scented Pelargonium, which I love. It really does smell of Coca-Cola.  the other scented plant, which I would not be without it Strawberry mint.  it is primarily a small leaved, heavily scented foliage plant, but it does have dainty spikes of lavender flowers in midsummmer. I know that mint is supposed to take over in a garden, but in my garden, the slugs get to it before I do.  I was worried that I would lose this mint, but so far, so good. 

I also have pineaple scented Sage.  The slugs do attack this, but it seems to be managing to survive.  This really does smell of pineapple.   the scent from both the pellys and the sage arises from the leaves, the flowers being quite insignificant.  If a pretty flower is desired, there are honeysuckles, roses, and pinks.  Honeysuckles to me herald the arrival of summer. 

In my garden, the scent hangs on the air on a warm, still summer day.  Roses, whilst I have a few that are scented, you do have to stick your nose into them to smell them.  Running the risk of having them clutch you in their thorny stems. The other scented flower whose scent hangs on the air is the pink.  the scent is heady and intoxicating.  Pinks can be short-lived plants, and it may be necessary to take cuttings every few years, but they do root easily

Some of the best scented plants flower in the winter.  Shrubs like Sarcocca (Christmas Box) this is an evergreen shrub, with small white flowers.  I have 2 types in my very small garden.  Sarcocca Humilis and Sarcocca Confusa.  They are both neat shrubs with small glossy leaves.  The main difference is in the size of the shrub, with Humilis being a height and spread of 0.5-1M and Confusa 2-1.5M.  They both seem to deal with relatively dry shade and flowers smell heavenly over the winter time.  I also have a Wintersweet bush (Chimomanthus Praecox).  This is also a winter flowering shrub.  The flowers are pretty but not spectacular until you are working in its close vicinity on a still winter day, and the intoxicating scent hits you as it hangs in the air.  This is planted in the sun in my garden, I am not sure how it would fare in the shade. The other scented winter flowering shrub I have is the winter flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera Fragrantissima). This can grow to 2m high and 3 m spread but I keep mine smaller by pruning in the spring.

Creeping Between the Paving Slabs.

As I have mentioned before, I do not have any grass in my garden apart from the weedy couch grass, which seems to spring up at every opportunity, just paving slabs, cobbles, and gravel.  These were all laid over flattened earth and heavy duty wed suppressing membrane.  The other plants that I use extensively between the paving slabs are Chamomile Teauge and Sedum. The Chamomile Teague is primarily a foliage plant and does not mind being trodden on, which will release its scent. it seems to do particularly well on my top terrace where the soil is well drained. 

I will be taking cuttings next month so that I can plant some of this in my front garden.  as the gaps between the paving slabs are beginning to annoy me when the weeds such as herb robert and creeping jenny and creeping buttercup  start to grow. Another plant that I already have in my front garden is the creeping Sedum.  I have had this plant for many years. It was a cutting from my lovely mum.  I think that it is Sedum Spurium as it is very low growing, and the rose pink flowers are held densely on top of the flower stems.

These Sedums are available in pink and white.  It seems to be evergreen in my garden and is  attractive throughout the year.  This is not really a plant that will take a lot of treadfall. It is at the base of a red buddlea in the garden, in a very dry and hot and semi sunshine position.  Again I will try to take cuttings of this as it is a very good doer.  It is naturally spreading in the garden but it is so useful that I think that it I will help it along.

Filling the Gaps

At this time of the year, a lot of the hardy annuals are over, of course some of them such as the ever useful Nigella have self seeded and will provide intermittent flowers untill the end of the Autmn in my area.   But, it is now time for me to admit that the others, particularly the Godetia and the Antirrinum, are past their best.  Thankfully, I do have some Cosmos that have survived the slugs this year.  A minimal amount it is true, but enough to provide a splash of colour in the  border that can be seen from my conservatory and the first border that is seen in my garden.  Cosmos are coming into their own at this time of the year, when the days are getting shorter, but it is still warm.  They are flamboyant daisies with feathery foliage and flowers in shades of cream, red, pink, and purple. 

I grew several varieties this year.   Mostly the tall varieties that grow to approx 3 or 4 ft tall.  they are cut and come again, so they will provide flowers until it gets too cold.  Last year, they were flowering until the end of October.  Whilst they will grow in a relatively poor soil, ideally, they like good and well drained soil.  Well drained being of particular importance.  The varieties that I grow are tall, so I do stake them, and they will look good from now until the first frosts, providing I keep them dead headed.