One of the pleasures of gardening is the accompanying scents from your flowers and shrubs. By taking in to consideration when different plants bloom while landscaping your borders, you can ensure your garden is filled with pleasant aromas the whole year round. Many plants will attract bees and butterflies, too.
Border Plants
Lavender is a garden favourite, a summer perennial ideal for borders and lining garden paths, releasing its gorgeous aroma when brushed. There are many varieties, but planted in the correct conditions lavender requires little maintenance.
Wallflowers are another garden favourite which are easy to grow, providing lovely shades of colour as well as a lovely scent. Sometimes overlooked, Viburnum is a large shrub which can provide early flowers and scent at a time when the garden may be scarce of these qualities.
Scent from Containers
Scented plants in containers are perfect for smaller gardens or just to sit on a patio and waft their aroma in to the house. Lilies are an example of a plant well adapted for containers whose flowers release a strong scent, enriching any patio area. The petunia tumbelina is another variety well suited for containers, providing an array of summer colour alongside a delicate fragrance.
Peonies also have lovely summer blooms, but to enjoy their scent ensure you plant them in a large container as they have deep root systems.
Evening Fragrance
If you enjoy sitting out in the evening, consider the many plants which release their scent at this time of the day when landscaping your garden. Evening primrose uncurl their petals at night providing evening fragrance to attract pollinators, while the white flowered jasmine shrub is particularly fragrant at night. Scented climbers like honeysuckle and wisteria can be grown over a pergola or up a wall and provide lovely evening scent near the house.
Bee Friendly
The joy of flowering blooms packed full of scent is you will not be the only one attracted to them. Many varieties will bring bees, butterflies and birds in to your outdoor space, great to watch and great if you need pollinators for your fruit and vegetables.
Monarda is an example of a summer perennial which the bees love and will visit throughout the summer months. Lavender is another bee favourite, while Cat Mint is a reliable perennial, which not only do bees love but as the name suggests your cat may too.
Garden Herbs
Herbs planted in borders or containers are a multi-faceted option when gardening. Not only do they look good, are often easy to maintain and taste great when added to meals, they also offer lovely aromas.
Rosemary is a classic garden herb whose aroma is striking even before you sample its culinary delight. Although quite invasive and often best grown in containers, mint is another herb with a distinctive, clean fragrance which goes hand in hand with its taste. Basil is another kitchen favourite with lots of varieties offering a choice of fragrant scents.
Our landscape team at Glorious Gardens is happy to discuss these ideas in planning your garden. If you’re considering a “re-do” of your outdoor space, we invite you to call us. We will brainstorm to find the right blend of elements to suit your tastes, your budget and your space.
