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Gardening 101: First smells of spring!
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Posted by admin Sun Mar 23, 2008 21:04:24 PDT
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As I walked through the nursery last weekend, I noticed different aromas wafting by. I realized that spring is truly coming. I’m a bit tired of cold days and really tired of cold wind. With some luck we will be saying hello to beautiful spring days from now on! Can I be experiencing the sweet smells of spring right now? I do hope so.

Many plants and flowers combine to create the perfumed air I encounter. I think I can single out some of the most impressive. As I walk through the shade area, I first come to the pink jasmine (Jasminum Polyanthum). This vine likes morning sun and actually has a pink bud opening to a white flower. It has a very strong odor and grabs my attention quickly not to mention the solid blanket of flowers it produces.

  Next I pass by the sweet olive. This plant is not an olive at all but an osmanthus fragrans. That name should give you a clue that it is fragrant. This is an evergreen shrub with a very small non-descript flower. Maybe that’s why it’s named as such, so we’ll know it smells good!

   Not to be outdone in the smell or name department is the Daphne — Daphne Odora to be exact. Winter Daphne has thick, waxy leaves rimmed in white with beautiful clusters of pink and white flowers. It hates to be over watered and likes some shade. I like to try it in pots. I say try it, because it is a hard plant to grow. If you are successful, what a bouquet it will produce!

Common violets are a good ground cover for shady areas. Be careful, they will multiple, but they are very easy to grow. Otherwise known as “sweet violets” they come in several colors. Pink, white and most commonly purple. Two other shade plants that will soon bloom are evergreen clematis and sarcococca. Neither plant is widely used but both are people stoppers when they’re blooming, generally saying, “What is that smell?” when strolling by.

When walking out into sunny areas of the nursery, I am greeted by some potted bulbs. Most of these were planted in the fall and are now in all their spring glory. Some of the most fragrant fall bulbs are paperwhite narcissus, hyacinths, and freesias. Upcoming will be lilies. Easter lilies are one of many bulbs with flowers springing forth very soon. You can “stagger plant” different varieties of lilies and get a long bloom time.

   Who said lilacs won’t grow here? There they are, and in full bud and bloom. The lilacs are even blooming in the smaller one-gallon containers. Lilacs, like many bulbs, require some chill to bloom, and we have just enough here in Bakersfield. Plant in a well-drained, sunny area and fertilize with a bloom enhancer once a month and they do fine. (Prune right after they bloom.)

Walking further into the nursery, I’m hit by too many scents. Is it the bridal wreath spirea, or the yellow Carolina jasmine, or the lavender, or the viburnum? I just can’t tell! As I look around it occurs to me that even more plants are just about ready to start blooming. Roses, citrus and star jasmine are other good smelling bloomers almost ready to go. Thus, the perfume will continue all spring and into summer. What a treat!

I’m always surprised when a customer puts a six-pack of pansies on the counter, they really smell good! I guess since they’re a low grower we don’t smell them as often. If getting down on your knees to smell the flowers isn’t an option, how about a nice hanging pot of beautiful flowers. A good smelly mix for sun would be plants like sweet alyssum, carnations, crocus, stock and the often overlooked pansies. This pot would smell great and look beautiful to boot.

When thinking about the aromas in your garden don’t leave out rosemary, salvia clevelandii, thyme and mint. All these plants have great aroma from their leaves as well as flowers. Plant them where you might brush up against the leaves. Put out some coco mulch on pathways for a chocolate smell and mow your grass.

Oh the sweet smells of spring!

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Comment From: dweaver3

Bakersfield sure has been lovely with its flower-bedecked trees lately. Can't wait for the jasmine and gardenias to bloom - such fragrance! Since I'm an apartment dweller, I'm interested in container gardening. Specifically tomatoes and herbs.