Fill Your Garden with Little StinkersI can’t count the number of times I’ve walked through a garden to be whacked in the face with an amazing sweet scent, only to look around and not be able to tell where it is coming from. That’s because these "little stinkers" that sneak up on you with their big powerful, stop-you-in-your-tracks fragrance, often have the tiniest little blooms. There are a bunch of them that do well here in the Northwest, and of course, I have a few favorites.
 Have you
ever tasted a Meyer lemon? If you have, you know there’s no
comparison between a Meyer lemon and any other lemon. There’s less
pucker-power and more sweetness in a Meyer lemon. I’ve promised to
plant more Meyers for my wife this year. She loves the fruit and the
fragrance. Outside Meyer lemons bloom almost all summer long with small
white clusters of fresh, fragrant blooms. It is best to plant Meyer lemons
in containers so when the temperatures go below freezing you can bring them
into the garage or into the basement; they are not hardy outside here in
Oregon. Otherwise, your Meyer lemons will be happy outdoors for most of
the year. Give them as much sun as possible. A patio is the perfect spot
so the plant can soak up all the radiant heat reflected by concrete.
Remember to use a good citrus fertilizer, and be sure your potting soil
drains well. Meyer lemons don’t like to have soggy roots. At
Al’s Garden Center’s Greenhouses, we’ve grown Meyer
lemon plants in a cool greenhouse, so the plants should be more
comfortable adjusting to our climate. For more details on how to grow
great Meyer lemons, go to
www.als-gardencenter.com/GrowingCitrusintheNorthwest.
 Your
sense of smell will do a double take walking by Sarcococca
‘Humilis’. It is another evergreen shrub whose small, spicy
blooms are outstanding. This low growing shrub blooms in the middle of
winter, during February. I like this plant because it looks so good even
when it’s not in bloom. Its dark green glossy leaves grow on green
stems, there’s a fun surprise of white blooms climbing up the stems
in February. Sarcococca comes in a few varieties. It can be short or
taller, depending on what you want. ‘Humilis’ is one of the
shorter varieties, growing 1-2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Sarcococca
‘Humilis’ likes a little afternoon shade. I have it planted by
my front door, which is an eastern exposure, and a place where I can enjoy
its great spicy scent.
So as this spring gets started, step out into your garden and take a deep breath…. If all of your senses are not impressed, maybe you need to add a little "stinker" into your life. |
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The
guessing game starts with Winter Daphne or Daphne ‘Odora’, a
winter blooming plant that can conjure up some of your favorite memories.
After the first few warm days in February, Daphne ‘Odora’
becomes true to its name and will bloom, releasing its sweet scent, it
screams spring. Just one sniff of the pinkish white blooms and I am
reminded of all the fun and life spring brings along with the promise of
spring gardening days to come. Daphne ‘Odora’ likes to be
planted in an eastern or northern exposure; it doesn’t like the hot
afternoon sun. Once your sweet bloomer is established, you can shear the
plant back in early July to keep it fat and happy. If you miss July and
wait too long, the plant won’t have time to regrow and set new buds
for next year. I shear back my Daphne every year keeping it 2 feet high
and 2 feet wide. My Daphne ‘Odora’ is butterball tight and
covered with blooms. Your Daphne ‘Odora’ will also want a shot
of lime and some slow release fertilizer in March. This will help it grow
well and have healthy green foliage. Like all Daphnes, ‘Odora’
likes to run on the drier side, don’t overwater it, or plant it
somewhere where the sprinkler system will drown it everyday. Make sure
your soil drains well so the plant’s roots will remain healthy.
There’s nothing finer than the scent of a Gardenia. I’m
taken back in time whenever I smell a Gardenia. The fragrance of a
gardenia reminds me of dances back in high school, when the girls would
wear Gardenias on their shoulders. Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia is a
Gardenia you can grow outdoors here in the Northwest. They have that
wonderful scent from early spring into summer and sometimes beyond.
Kleim’s Hardy Gardenias are small, evergreen shrubs that grow 2 to 3
feet tall and wide. Their blooms are single white and star-like with a
fragrance that will truly knock your socks off. Don’t waste these
plants by putting them in the backyard. Plant them where you can enjoy
their scent. Kleims