Does a "fragrant" flower have to smell "good"? I was deadheading marigolds today and realized that I love that "funky" scent! (But then I'm a rare person who thinks SKUNK smells rather interesting!) I somehow like pungent odors...I guess. Do any of you have an unusual garden scent that others probably don't like but you do??
Can a "funky" garden scent be a secret favorite?
connie,
you may like Nyctanthes arbor tristis. Lot of Indians like it but it makes me puke.
Gosh Connie I think they smell like cat pee, but thats just me LOL! I love the smell of Bottle brush tree and Eucalyptus tree.
Okay...can't wait to smell the Nyctanthes...LOL...too bad this WEB site doesn't have "smell-a-vision" too!
And Heavinscent...I do Love eucalyptus scent...all my bath products are that! And I grew up with a Bottle Brush in the yard but don't remember a scent at all...is it an unusual one too?
Connie
Everyone else loves wax myrtle-I have about 5 of them by the driveway and I think they smell like cat pee! I guess this is the opposite of what you were asking...Connie-you might like them as well if you like pungent odors. If I could I would send you mine but they are too big lol
Connie, LOL, I think from a distance skunk almost smells good!
I like the ''old'' smell of the wild bergamot.
Connie, The Bottle brush flowers to me don't smell but the leaves have a eucalyptus like scent too.
When I get a whiff of berries beginning to flower...kind of a swampy smell...I immediately look for the poision ivy that is bound to be lurking about. I am so allergic to it. So...I "like" the swampy smell because it protects me. If I catch the smell when I hit my golf ball beyond the rough...I take the extra stroke rather than looking for the ball. I also like marigolds aroma. I "like" the smell of bleeding heart root because it tells me that I've come across yet another plant about to emerge. Bleeding heart is invasive in my garden...much as I love it when it blooms. HM
I won't buy marigolds unless it smells like a marigold because I like the scent.
I like the pungent scent of Tagetes lemmonii (aka Shrub Marigold or Mexican Bush Marigold). People seem to either love or hate the fragrance of this plant; when I used to grow it people would inevitable comment on its smell.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54284/index.html
herbmoxie, I know exactly what you mean about that swampy smell that tells you poison oak is near! For years I drove to and from work through the woods and in late summer that smell was very strong (esp in the afternoon going home). When I'd mention the smell to others, though, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Maybe it's because, like you, I'm highly allergic to poison oak -- perhaps people who have reason to watch out for it have heightened perception re signs that can alert us to its presence. (???) Anyway, this is the first time I've ever heard of anyone else mentioning that swampy smell.
I like the smell of chrysanthemums, even put them on my table at Thanksgiving one year.
Also love the smell of tomato foliage. and crushed Juniper berries.
How funny Ivy1 I love the smell of tomato plants. This is a really neat thread thanks Connie!
Ivy, I too love the tomato scent. I recently watered plants for my neighbors who were on vacation, and loved the scent that came from the tomato plants just from spraying them with water! I once bought a home scent / perfume (French) that was Eau de Tomate...or something like that...and it definitely had a tomato scent! I loved it!
My daughter bought me some tomato scented candles at Target! Mmmmm...
I too love the smell of marigolds, but until this year, thought my peony smelled like cat pee. Go figure.
Honeysuckle has got to be my all time favorite scent. My husband had one growing on the side of his house when we first courted. Come to think of it, that's probably why i married him!
You might like artemesia (various cultivar) - it has a musky smell to it. I like it only in small quantities
How about Lavender Cotton? It smells kind of medicine-y, but nice.
I recently read that if you plant enough marigolds or other "stinky" flowers, it will fool the deer and they can't smell the ones they like to eat! I don't know if that is true, but I've not had a single thing eaten from my front garden, and it used to be the deer path through our neighborhood!
I've been deadheading the marigolds like crazy, and the "good-to-me" smell makes the job more fun than deadheading roses. I also love the SNAP! sound the spent head makes. (I know...another weird thing, but then I also am one who loves weeding!!!)
I love the smell of garlic. My friend's mother had some growing in her yard and I'd always lightly the tops in my hands and inhale deeply.
Kimcheebaby...welcome to the Dave's Garden site! I myself have only been a member since April 3 of this year, and wow...have I learned a lot and met a multitude of interesting/fun people. I organized a Nursery Tour here in Austin and met 7 wonderful people! DG has become my "resting place" after I come inside from gardening in this June heat! Hope to see you around often on the various threads.
BTW...to the left in this photo are my marigolds that I love to deadhead. I crush the heads and leave them in little piles on the stones so the deer can see that there's 'nothing sweet to eat' in MY garden! ha (Thus far, the deer just go graze on the lawn of the lady across the street, and even get up on their hind feet and eat the leaves from her trees!...I also spray 'Invisible Fence' every few days, but I think my marigolds are the key!)
That's a lovely landscape Connie. It fits your home beautifully. I always go a little overboard with my plantings, so I really appreciate the control of your planting.
Thanks, Ivy! Actually, the house to the left is my neighbors', but mine is similar in style...both built in the 60's as true lakehouses--second homes with quirky styles and plans. Here is mine...
That is super! I miss that prairie style look.
I love/hate the smell of Petunias. I think they should be called Phew-tunias.
Too cute... I love puns!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/566962/
I thought this seemed familiar- lol!!
LOL Berrygirl.
Guess the thread was a good one if two of you thought of it.
This is cool tho, we just doubled the scents!!
Yep!
and this one...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/487393/
Oh I love it! So much about gardening is olfactory- lol!
Connie_W, I like the smell of marigolds too. It reminds me of my mom's yard when I was growing up, she always had marigolds, bearded iris, and peonies. But then, who doesn't like the smell of peonies? That was in central Illinois. I can't get peonies to grow here and I really miss that smell.
I was out tonight dead-heading my marigolds and getting intoxicated on the fragrance. Them and petunias are the only 2 annulas that I don't mind dead-heading at all- lol!
Berrygirl....I just went to your thread you started in January!! LOL
Think we are twins separated at birth???
I read somewhere that of all our senses, smell can revive a deeply-stored old memory the easiest!!
Not to hijack the thread but...RE: Poison Ivy
I recently became allergic to poison ivy after inoculation by smilax which allowed the PI to grab hold. I was miserable for 2 weeks before I figured out what it was. I'd always been immune. Research has found the following products to be helpful and I agree.
Ivy block- put it on 15 minutes before potential exposure to protect your skin.
Technu- use it to wash your skin, clothes, tools
Ivarest- supposed to ease the pain, itch. Actually I found this to be minimally helpful, It certainly wasn't worth the stains on my sheets but it was better than whatever I had tried before that.
Maggie
Thanks Maggie. I've heard of people having a sudden reaction to poison ivy when they had never been allergic before. I work in my yard a lot, and because we have a lot of woods around us, I know it's there. I'll look for these products and keep them on hand. You can never be too careful! LOL
101, what is DH? Dear husband, or Demented old circus monkey husband?
I see it mentioned alot.
I changed the word that looked like a cuss word:)
This message was edited Jun 21, 2006 1:04 PM
Flygirl...I asked the same question the first day I was on DG. It does mean "dear" husband (and be forewarned...when I wrote the other word, I was cited by the administrators! They run a very tight, clean ship here...which is because it's a Rated G for family site...a very good thing...in case children or grands are looking over our shoulders!)
Also...
DW = dear wife
DD = dear daughter
DS = dear son....
DMIL = .... You get the picture!
Some other things I didn't "get" at first...
1. There is a "practice page to get the hang of posting pictures"
2. There are "chat" days...for live chat. Tue and Thurs....there will be smiley faces on the opening page
3. Start immediately on your journal and diary pages...those are so wonderful! And your personal diary pages can be keep "locked" if you wish
4. Go to the local events that are planned and meet new people! It's such fun to make new friends and then really know the people you chat with on a daily basis (almost)
5. This is addictive...be sure to do your housework/ work first and reward yourself with DG! haha
Hope this helps!
Oh, I know cussing isn't a good idea, I actually wrote darn-d a r n-and it looks like the other.