What the winter garden lacks in drama and colour, it makes up for in amazing smells.These days I'm nose-smacked at several spots on the path; stoppped in my tracks, my eyes shut, my mouth shuts and my nose breathes in deep and long... and if that sounds like yoga, I guess maybe it is.
The smell of the winter flowers is so intense, exotic, demanding even. Which maybe is the point. In summer, it's warm, light, colourful. There are flowers everywhere; bees and lacewings and butterflies are on patrol. The whole fertility thing is in full swing, and nobody's missing out.
In winter, it's cold and dark, and there's only a handful of flowers on offer. They are really going to have to work hard to get any pollination action. This might explain why they are often white -- visible even in the dark -- and have such intense smells. Those amazing smells are probably the only reason they survived as winter flowers... I just love all this natural intelligence stuff. Totally awesome. Anyway, here they are -- the scented darlings of the winter garden...
Jasmine, our beloved local weed, spreading from yard to yard, and delighting us all with its sweet, smokey, slightly cinnamon smell.
Daphne, the absolute favourite for orangey-pineapple perk-me-up-and-take-me-somewhere-tropical factor.
Jonquils? Winter cheer? A daffy anyway. This is the first one up for the year, and even though I've got a sniffle and can't smell a lemon or coffee (how tragic) at the moment, I can smell this flower.
Full disclosure: this hyacinth came from The Warehouse. I rescued it, another hyacinth and two pots of red tulips. I just had to. They were in The Warehouse, totally miserable, and I felt moved, obliged even, to get them out of there and into a good garden -- mine. (What was I doing in The Warehouse? Looking for cheap bulk white cotton face cloths. Honest.)
I noticed today that the hellibores have budded up and are getting ready to show us their tutus. White, purple, and I hope some fluffy pink.
I'm working on loving winter, and it's not that hard. Look to nature. Be amazed.
Lovely post Sue :-) I agree that winter has its own special beauty and scents. Your flowers are all gorgeous. I went walking by the sea today - huge big waves were pounding the shore and me at times, but it was so magical and invigorating. Right, I may have to nip off to the warehouse myself for some stunning hyacinths! Have a good weekend. Becks xxx
ReplyDeleteOhh Jasmine is so pretty and smells so wonderful, I refuse to accept that they're a weed! Daphne's another beautiful one, I haven't seen it in a while but when I was a child I was convinced that if you looked close enough the flowers seemed to sparkle - am I right?
ReplyDeleteOh, and good on you rescuing sad plants from the Warehouse! Must've been meant to be.
Jonquils are one of my favourite scents - I love the way they seem to react when you walk by, sending out lovely perfume. They remind me of my grandad who always seemed to have them by his bed in hospital when I was little. I have never planted them, can't think why either. Must add that to my to-do list!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a fab week hon,
Leah