Support for a Fragrant Gardening forum?

I too would like to see a fragrant forum, minus roses- LOL!

I found Glenn last year and am soo glad I did. I plan to order more from him this year.

Viola, I have never bought a daphne as I always heard they were nearly impossible to grow here in our fair state- and here you've got two- LOL! You have got to give me the scoop so I can try to grow one.

My fave [so far] fragrant shrubs are Carolina Allspice/Sweetshrub[calycanthus floridus], Summersweet/Sweet Pepperbush[clethra alnifolia], Viburnum, and Abelia.
OF vining petunia, nicotiana, and 4 o'clocks are my favorite annuals.

I would LOVE to have crinums, mockorange, magnolias and gardenias- though I can't get the latter 2 to live.

Hate to tell you this ladies, but both were varigated--and in bloom. I'm pretty sure it was HD cuz they must have some really stupid people there--have gotten uncommonly good deals there.

Watch the name 'Glory Bower' I once got something pretty stinky instead, lol! It's this one: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/772/index.html

BTW Caren, can you come to our plant swap this Spring in Georgia? Along with the swap, we have an awesome nursery nearby. Pins is coming, right Carmen? I'm working on May 6 at Dauset Trails.

BTW, SHOE! Don't forget that you're always still invited to the GARU spring or fall, there are so many lovely places for you and DD to camp!

Berrygirl, they told me the secret to Daphne is neglect, and I have to believe it--I actually have 3. Gardenias are too easy--as long as you're not growing the prostrate one, are you sure you have a nice acidic loam? As I mentioned before the Little Gem Magnolia is the one to get. By looking at my PlantFiles pics, you should see pretty much what I'm growing. Of course I try not to overdo the photos when not needed. Are you going to try and come this year?

I stink at growing seed :( so if y'all wanna come to the swap, share with me!

Vi , You are just BAD! Theres just no reason to rub it in! What a find. I may have to go noseing around HD this spring. None of the nuserys here have restocked since the hurricanes. I sure hope by then most things will be back to normal. Also thanks for the heads up on Glory blower. As for the swap, it would be a good time but I dont DH will see it my way. He is not at all impressed with my hobby.

OOps double post!

This message was edited Dec 30, 2005 8:28 PM

Viola,
Neglect huh? I see the books aren't always right, as I have always read that daphne is sooo very picky! Maybe I'll buy one, plant it and forget it- LOL!
I tried growing my gardenia next to my azaleas and it died.It was so $$ I never bought another.

Several yrs ago someone gave us several 'baby' magnolia grandifloras. They all died. DH gave one to his mom and it is thriving and blooming already- and she totally neglects it- LOL!

Thanks, violabird! I sure would like to make it to one of the GaRups sometime! (I've seen some mighty fine pics of where ya'll tend to have them!) Crossing fingers here...maybe one day, eh?

As for daphne...DG member Vic gave me a couple that she rooted. If I ever get a big enough plant I hope to propagate some from it. They sure are a finicky plant though, I've lost several of them (they just up and die, it seems). Guess I haven't been neglectful enough?

Berrygirl, I have also had no luck with gardenias. I love them though. Its like my tea olives they hate me but I just keep buying them. Even if I only get one season out of them Im happy!

I have had so much fun looking at Glenn's cite. Thanks for posting. LOL I have both gardenias and tea olive which are doing fine so far. My gardenias are 2 years old, but I just set out my tea olive last year. I'm suppose to be rooting a piece of my gardenia for Fireant ... but for some reason I haven't had any luck. Have done it before, so am thinking maybe it's the cold. I just love this thread. Thanks for all this info. I haven't known how to find out about flowers with fragrance.
... elaine

I appreciate your efforts, Elaine. I have a tea olive, but it is scrawny and barely two feet tall. It was put in by a landscaper, too, not by me. I should have asked for a healthier looking one. I wonder if pruning it back would help it regrow and fill out some more? It has a few leaves and flowers, but not enough to enjoy scents.
Nancy

Nancy, my tea olive didn't have much smell this past year either. I'm thinking maybe it's because it was just set out last year. Sure hope it smells this year. My sister had one, and it was just wonderful. I'm still babying a gardenia for you. It's sort of become a *thing* now ... if you know what I mean. :)

Another good site for fragrants
http://rareflora.com/fragrant.htm
I have ordered plants big and small and all were happy and healthy.

Hevenscent, that is a great cite. I really appreciate all this info. Without this forum, I wouldn't have known about these plants being specific to fragrance. I asked about this when I joined DG last spring. Thanks.
... elaine

Elaine,
Comming from another gardening stie with a Fragrant forum, it was the first thing I looked for after joining DG. I prefer DG in every way but I wish there was a froum for my favorite kind of gardening.
Caren

I know just what you mean, Caren. I love any plants but have limited space and want to grow only fragrant ones. A lot of flowers and plants smell ... but I want to grow those known for their fragrance. There's a big difference. LOL :)

Thanks for the link Heaven!

You can google fragrant plants or fragrant gardening and get a ton of info. I researched and made a list til about 5:00 this morning-LOL! A good place ot find a lot of shrubs and trees is Forestfarm. One site I looked at had a list and when I looked on my FF catalog about 95% of the plants were there.

A problem I am running into: a LOT of the fragrant plants aren't hardy in my area- drats! This is the ONLY time when I really envy the folks that live in the zones that have temps of 75 degrees at Xmas- LOL!!

This is the site I looked at this morning and got a lot of ideas from: http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/Fragrant_Plants.htm

I too have decided that if it doesn't smell good, then I don't want it in my yard. I already have a lot of plants with no fragrance but am determined not to get any more.

This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 1:42 PM

Well, then they must be talking about me. LOL as it's 76 here today.

Io1,
how far south are you from me?

Berrygirl, I just planted this as a wind break should be hardy in z7 they also get eatible friut. There are also several other varitys. Waft nicely!
http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/elaeag_p.cfm

Berrygirl, I'm just off the FL line. Another 15 miles and I'd be in FL! LOL

Those are nice websites. A friend has a plant that looks a lot like salvia elegans--pineapple sage, but it's huge, at least six feet tall. I didn't know it grew that large. It must be a look-a-like. I have to check plantfiles.

Io1,
Well if I am ever down that way I'll look you up. If you ever want to come my way LMK. I'm not too far from the Mtns- or Hotlanta either.

Sounds wonderful! If you go 75 ... you go right pass me! Just send me a Dmail if you're coming my way.

Heavin,
I wasn't familiar with those. They look and sound wonderful. I had read that they *might* be invasive in FL. Any worries?

They do tend to sucker but they are easily pulled out. If you keep them up there should not be a problem. Birds love the berrys so Im sure seeds could be spread but, I think its the suckering thay can become invasive if left unchecked. Someone please correct me if Im wrong.
I plan to keep them as a wind break but still I will keep it in its place. So no I have no worries. ;-)


I think some of the other varitys are less invasive. Russian olive, Autumn Olive, Sweet scarlet, I think there may be a few more. Forest farm has several of these.

This message was edited Dec 31, 2005 3:56 PM

My head is spinning!
Researching fragrant plants is hard work when you have conflicting info on hardiness. DG PF's says one thing, Forestfarm says another- wheesh!

Berrygirl, There are also many fragrant Annuals. Im not sure what you are looking for but I am sure if you have a general Idea we could all put our heads togeather and help you find what you are looking for. As for plant files vs a dealer. Always keep in your mind that the dealer wants to sell you something. Dg'ers have nothing to loose or gain by giving to a hardiness zone.
Caren

Just thinking of having a fragrant forum makes my head spin. I'm all for it. :)

CAREN,
I'm actually researching fragrant trees/shrubs. I don't have a prob with annuals as they'll die at the end of the season. I am concerned about investing good $$ in something that may or may not be hardy for me. A lot of things I have looked at in the catalogs[not necessarily FF] say it's not hardy in my zone whereas DG might say that it is. And if you scroll down you'll see sometimes that a DGer was able to grow something by pushing their zone. Not all the things I have saw are in favor of the plant seller. And you also get varying info all over the net at other plant and gardening sites- and other sources such as plant books. Even my SL book doesn't always agree with other sources. Its just sooo confusing sometimes- LOL!

I think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and just order small sizes of the plants that I want. But I want soo much that even that can tend to get pricey- LOL!!

BG, just wait till we get our forum. I'm sure alot of us will help with suggestions on your selcections.

Surely Dave will see our plight tomorrow and fix us up ;>}

Vi,
Surely the great and mighty Dave willl take pity on us and help us? LOL!

I'm still hoping?

Well, I have been watching and reading this thread.
My most favorite flower is the dahlia but 2nd favorite plant are the fragrant ones.
I just love the 'Halls honeysuckle', the 'Goldflame honeysuckle'and 'Star Jasmine'. These bloom all summer here in Oregon and I just love smelling them when working in the yard.
I would love a Fragrant Forum.
Carol

I had went to flowerscentgardens.com and saw that his website will be up in a few days- and that the 2006 catalogs are on their way- YIPEE!!

Follow your noses over here.... http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/fragrant/all/

Thank you!

Just wanted to bump this as it sems a lot of folks are still unaware of the new forum.

COME AND JOIN US!!