Fragrant Flowers

Tonight is the 6th anniversary of 9/11. All that I can offer is what comforts and reminds me that there is still remarkable beauty amidst all the ugliness in the world.

Following are excerpts from an article on Fragrant Flowers that I had done earlier in the year. As a whole, it is one of my favorite pieces. The photos are by Michelle Jorsling who does such amazing work.

The song of scent is the same all over the world. Evocative and primal, it speaks to our deepest soul, conjuring up moods and memories long forgotten. And nowhere is it sung louder than the recesses of the tropical garden. In the milky light of pre-dawn morning and at the magical dusk hour, the choruses are in harmony, dipping and swooping in a medley of sweet overtones, musky notes, and even an occasional bite of bitter to round off the balance. And for every siren call, there is an answering suitor.
Coffee Arabica

I had planted three Arabica coffee trees high on the hill behind the Flamboyant tree. The first time they burst into flower I was overjoyed. Inadvertently it seems that I had discovered one of the best kept secrets of the gardening world. It took me some time to find the source of the intoxicating smell wafting through my early morning garden but there they were, spiky bursts of china-white against the deep shiny green leaves. All in full bloom. The flowers do not last but make up for their short lives with an exquisite biting perfume.


Cattleya Wendy Patterson
Deep in the rainforest, scented orchids can be found swaying high in the canopy. Vanilla pods are, in fact, the seed pods of a particular species of climbing orchid (Vanilla planifolia) found in warmer climates

Gardenia Jasminoides Variegata
By sending out a deliciously fragranced morse-code, the flower can exert a powerful pull and thereby ensure life. It is also why white flowers are often odorous with sweet, musky notes, ensuring that they are “seen” by pollinators.
Cattleya Gaskelliana



Quisqualis indica (rangoon creeper)


Gardenia Tubeferia Kula
Cattleya Mari Song (very fragrant)

A garden fragrant with subtle perfume is not complete without the addition of at least one or two scented orchids. Many varieties send forth multiple sprays of fragrant blooms that last for several weeks. Perhaps the best known specimens are the large, blowsy Cattleyas with their vivid range of striking colours. They are often seen with contrasting colours on the tubular, fringed lip. Less well known, but no less beautiful, are Oncidiums such as the popular Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance' with its distinct chocolate smell and the Dendrobiums (one of the largest orchid genera), well recognized for their popularity in the cut flower market.


Datura Mollis (Brugmansia)

Spathoglottis ungiculta or fragrant ground orchid (smells like grapes)

The power of smell has uncanny power to move us. Even the most subtle whiff can bring back a plethora of memory and emotion

Strophantus Gratus

Anise, bay leaf, bergamot, cardamom, cedar wood, eucalyptus, gardenia, geranium, iris, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lilac, lily of the valley, moss, neroli, orange, patchouli, pine, raspberry, rose, sage, sandalwood, tuberose, vanilla, vertiver and ylang-ylang- each bearing your personalized script. If you had to smell happiness, which one would it be?

Scented Flowers

Those of you that know me, have probably realized that this is my favourite plant.
It is the Odontodenia vine. Indigenous to South America, the delicately scented, salmony-yellow bells hang in clusters from a woody, vigourous vine that has leaves not unlike those of the cocoa tree. If you are lucky it will develop pods (which it did for me once) and you can plant the seeds. I have had no luck growing it by cuttings but we have succeeded by seed. I can take no credit for this as Sandy Gibson , whose forte is really orchids but also includes anything that grows, put his attention to this and figured out the ingenious solution. The seeds emerge from the pod with large airy filaments but the seeds appear too heavy to fly. Hmmmm. Sandy logically thought that they may have been designed to float down jungle rivers (like the Amazon). So the seeds were soaked for about a week (they became quite waterlogged and heavy) and then planted in sandy pro-mix. Bingo and Eureka!! Success. I recently did an article on the Fragant Garden and discovered when researching this plant, that it is showing promise as a potential cytotoxic agent in the fight against ovarian cancer. It is currently under research . Isn't that amazing?
Scented flowers are the magic of a garden. Whether subtle or overpowering they add character to our outdoor rooms . The Datura below is powerful and almost hypnotic . The trumpet shaped bells are so perfectly formed, you just know that they serve some crucial role in fairy land!White begonia or "bread and cheese" as it is ubiquitously known throughout the islands is also deliciously fragrant especially in the morning. The perfume is very delicate and clean smelling.

Rangoon Creeper is a robust climber that often has white, pink and red blooms at the same time. When it is in full bloom, it tends to throw its perfume at dawn and dusk. This photo is not one of mine, it is taken by Michelle Jorsling.
I had to include Garlic Vine because it too is scented. Unfortunately, the unmistakeable smell is very garlic-y. Hence the name. It is Sooo pretty that it's easy to excuse the pungency.
Another beauty Cattleya Mari Song is not just exquisite looking, it is also delicately perfumed. This is another of Michelle's photos.