The Nose Knows

What a difficult time I've had with this entry in which I intend to name my FIVE favorite floral fragrances. I've pondered all day, shuffled flowers in, shuffled them back out to let another in (and actually felt badly for hurting a flower's feelings). I considered the near impossibility of this selection process. I'm not including shrubs, so the heavenly lilac did not have to compete. After all the hard choices and with quite a mental list of runners-up, here we go - my five favorite scents in the combined divisions of annuals and perennials:

The rose could even be the universal favorite scent, as often as it is used in literature, love letters, poetry....... I never, ever smell a rose without thinking about my first prom, my first corsage. Funny how scents bring back memories, isn't it?

Sweet pea, so deserving of the name. A sweet fragrance in a most delicate, lilting way.

"lavender, sweet lavender;
come and buy my lavender,
hide it in your trousseau, lady fair.
Let its flovely fragrance flow
Over your from head to toe,
lightening on your eyes, your cheek, your hair."

Cumberkand Clark Flower Song Book 1929

The peony. It fills a room. In fact, it fills an auditorium. The townsfolk of my home town lined the graduation stage each year with vases of peonies from their own June gardens. I wonder if they still do.

Heliotrope - for it's rich and heady vanilla scent. I could re-write the bible with this one. Frankincense, gold, myrhh and heliotrope. I plant one of these each year close to the spot where I put my outside reading chair.

As I pondered these good things, it was only natural that a few plants crossed my mind that caused me to scrunch up my nose. And so, with no offense intended, I segue to my three least favorite scents:

I can't bring the pungent marigolds into the house for bouquets but they have their righteous space in the vegetable garden where their scent keeps insects away.

I truly dislike brushing against Russian Sage. But because it thrives in the spot next to my garden hose, it is inevitable. I will give it credit for its redeeming value, though. The deer dislike it as much as I do. I think it has done its part to keep them from nibbling away at "delicacies" such as the dayliliy buds.

When I saw Gentian Speedwell "Ramona" at a garden center last year I was arrested by its beauty. But the scent overwhelmed me on the long ride home; it was a most offensive traveling companion! The worst of the worst. I'm sorry Ramona, but you could have let me know before I paid for you. You will not have a place of honor by my reading chair. (But I still think you're pretty.)

How I would love to know what YOUR favorite flower scents are and what memories they bring to mind. Do share!