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A FRAGRANT GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONS

One of the most joyful parts of gardening is to smell the rewards of all your hard work. By planting a wide aray of fragrant plants, you can reward yourself all year round with the most heavenly scents. Of course there are the old favourites like Roses and Lavender which are very rewarding but maybe you could consider adding some of the following suggestions to make your garden a 'Fragrant garden for all seasons'

SUMMER

The warm breezes of summer are the perfect vehicle to carry those heavenly tropical scents of the majestic Gardenia. Available in a number of varieties, the most popular and prolific flowerer is the Gardenia augusta 'Florida'. For best results plant in a morning sun position, feed and water regularly, and don't forget to remove spent flowers.

A firm favourite for summer fragrance is the tropical Frangipani. The most popular and widely found is "Acutifolia' which is a milky white flower with yellow centre. Also available are varieties of pink and yellow, deep pink and a mixture of all three. Many people voice their concern when growing Frangipani south of NSW however the key is to grow them in a north facing well protected positon, preferably against a warm brick or masonry wall. Protect from frost.

When I mention these next two plants I know I will hear sighs of 'I've never been able to grow them' or 'they always drop dead'! Admittedly both Stephanotis an Bouvardia can indeed be very tricky plants to grow in Victoria. As they are both plants that enjoy warm, tropical conditions they require the same considerations as the Frangipani. Perhaps treat these two as temporary or 'annual' plants and you can enjoy the magnificence of their beautiful white perfumed flowers without too much expectation!

AUTUMN/WINTER

Two of the most heavenly scented plants bless us with their sweet fragrance in the cooler months. Perhaps the most popular fragrance of all scented plants is the Daphne flower. Its delicate pink and white flower heads can be brought in to the home where their fragrance lasts for days. Whilst Daphne has a reputation as a difficult plant to grow, success can be achieved by following a few golden rules. A sheltered, well drained position is essential. Do not disturb the roots when planting and choose the position where it will stay for life - Daphnes do not like to to be moved. Do not over-water Daphnes, they do not like wet feet. If you are concerned about growing Daphne in the ground, they make an excellent pot plant.

Another beautifullly scented plant with a similar fragrance to the Daphne and Gardenia is Luculia. Luculia is an evergreen shrub with exquisite pink flowers. They have similar planting requirements to the Daphne but are well worth the trouble. They do like an extra boost from good organic matter and should be well mulched as they like a cool root zone and don't like dry soil.

SPRING

Who would have thought the one of the most magnificent scents in the garden could come from an Australian native plant ? The Brown boronia or Boronia megastigma has a truly heavenly fragrance. It can be a little fickle to grow but it is well worth the trouble with its pretty bell shaped flowers that smell of sweet lemon. Boronias need a moist well drained soil and should be well mulched so that their roots are never allowed to dry out.

When people think of spring gardening they cant help getting excited about once dormant bulbs making their way through the slowly warming soil. The best of the fragrant bulbs would have to be the Hyacinth, the old fashioned Freesia and the Jonquil erlicheer, all providing weeks of heady perfume.

These are just a few suggestions of some of the most beautiful fragrant plants to grow in your garden. Many herbs, climbers, trees and ground covers also have fragrant flowers and foliage. Ask your local Gills Nursery staff for their thoughts on their favourite fragrant plants,

TIPS & HINTS

Click on the links below to download our handy Gardening Tips & Hints in PDF format.

> Spring Gardening
> Roses - Selection & Growing
> Roses - Pruning
> Citrus Facts

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