|
"Of all the ingredients
we employ in the creation of a garden, scent is probably the
most potent and the least understood. Its effects can be either
direct and immediate, drowning our senses in a surge of sugary
vapor, or they can be subtle and delayed, slowly wafting into
our consciousness, stirring our emotions and coloring our thoughts."
- Stephen Lacey, Scent in Your Garden, 1991
Jasmine in twilight. New bamboo
after a rain. A blooming lemon tree under the sun. Our senses
respond to the garden not just as a pretty picture (which of
course it is), but something to touch, to taste, and, perhaps
most of all, to smell. Aromachology is the study of how scents
affect our moods and behavior. The following are three settings
that use this science to enhance your garden.
The morning garden:
When you need refreshing and energy.
|
Try putting a little breakfast
table by a lemon tree. Surround it with lavender and rosemary,
and perhaps a pot of peppermint. The green herbal and citrus
scents enhance wakefulness. Since lemon, rosemary, and lavender
plants have similar desires (sunny location, good drainage),
they will thrive together. The peppermint is best in a pot, because
it likes richer soil and good water, and has a tendency to spread
like wildfire. If you're a city dweller with a sunny patio, all
of these plants can be potted; Meyer lemons do esepcially well
in a container. |
|
A perfect scented spot to start
your morning, and if you take tea, the lemons are right there.
Peppermint also makes a lovely refreshing tisane (boiling water
poured over chopped fresh herbs).
The lazy afternoon garden:
For calming and relaxing.
Shady hammocks are always good
for a lazy afternoon, or try my sister's favorite and drag a
good comforter (no ratty beach blankets) out into a sunny, grassy
spot. Plant chamomile, scented geraniums, and roses. Soft, earthy
florals relax and soothe. A site with moist, fluffy, well-drained
soil and good sunshine will support this lovely trio. Chamomile
is a feathery, apple-scented plant with small daisy-like flowers
that can be used as groundcover. Scented geraniums and old-fashioned
roses are cottage-garden staples. These flowers are also prized
for their culinary value; chamomile tea, geranium scented sugar,
and rose-petal jam are just a few uses.
The evening garden:
To excite your senses.
A futon or chaise is the perfect
setting to enjoy falling dusk in your garden. Jasmine, thyme,
and orange trees make a lovely fragrant backdrop. Green notes
and white blossoms perfume the evening air with sedative and
aphrodisiac qualities. These plants prefer a warm climate, good
sun (jasmine tolerates partial shade and likes a little more
moisture, so a bush variety could be planted under the orange),
and well-drained soil. The white and lavender flowers of all
three are colors that stand out as twilight approaches, making
them ideal choices for the evening garden.
Perfumes are the feelings
of flowers. - Heinrich Heine |
