Posted: Monday 28 May 2012
by Adam Pasco
Memories are made of scent, and from now on, whenever I smell lilac, I will be taken back to my weekend at The Willow Festival [...]
The air was filled with more than music, as I walked along the River Nene, towards The Willow Festival at the weekend. Thousands of people, brought out by the sun to enjoy the bands at Peterborough's free music festival, were welcomed by one of nature's often unsung heroes – scent!
Large clumps of lilac along the embankment were at their best – deep purples and blues for the eye, almost assaulting my nose with intoxicating perfume.
Scent can take you off to another place, bringing back memories of another time, of people, gardens and childhood. Thinking back to my family garden at Semaphore Road, I can easily recall the smell of blackcurrant bushes, as I helped my grandmother pick off fat, swollen buds, caused by big bug mite, and the pungent smell of ground elder – our unwelcome garden invader.
There was fragrance from roses, peonies and large lilacs, and the characteristic smell of the potting shed. And mint, lots of mint, always available to pop in the pan of boiling water with new potatoes.
In my current garden I've about half a dozen pots of scented lilies on the patio, and one has just opened its first flower. There's lilac, of course, the powerfully fragranced Rosa 'The One & Only’, wisteria, herbs like lemon balm and coriander, and other shrubs with fragrant flowers like philadelphus and Choisya ternata.
In the greenhouse I'm building up a collection of scented-leaved pelargoniums (geraniums) and what a treat these are to work with. Rubbing a leaf gently between your fingers releases essential oils packed with scent, and this is where it gets interesting.
Some smell of oranges or lemons, while others smell of roses, nutmeg, ginger, pine or peppermint. I've even one that's almost good enough to eat, smelling of chocolate.
My favourite scented pelargoniums include:
Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum' - upright, small variegated leaves, lemon scent.
Pelargonium tomentosum - grey-green velvety leaves with the scent of peppermints.
Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth' - strong growing, variegated leaf, lavender-pink flower, citrus scent.
Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' - vigorous plants with rose-scented leaves.
Pelargonium 'Chocolate Peppermint' - perfect for after-dinner enjoyment!
Memories are made of scent, and from now on, whenever I smell lilac, I will be taken back to my weekend at The Willow Festival, where I enjoyed watching my musician friends in bands like The Contrast, Ignition and Filthy Lucre, sharing their music for free.
Enter our competition to win a year of scented flowers from The Real Flower Company (closes noon, Thursday 28 June, 2012).
Alina W
30/05/2012 at 12:08
Pelargoniums remind me of my mother, she loved them. I also remember a large scented pelargonium that she had - it eventually went because the smell became too strong!
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