Sweet Scents in the Summer Garden

One of my favorite sights when I come in first thing in the morning is that of the early morning sun catching the Ginger Lily growing in the pond outside the Flight Enclosure. The sweet scent is strong then, too, filling the still air with a light floral fragrance similar to that of gardenias. The blooms are overseen by the first verse of a Robert Frost poem, not particularly appropriate for this time of year but beautiful nonetheless:

It is blue-butterfly day here in spring,
And with these sky-flakes down in flurry on flurry
There is more unmixed color on the wing
Than flowers will show for days unless they hurry.

Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium) is also known as Butterfly Lily, for the shape of the big white blossoms. It has no nectar value for butterflies, but it’s easy to grow and guests frequently remark on the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.

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Another sweet-smelling bloom our guests often ask about is the Aloysia virgata, commonly known as Sweet Almond Bush. The tiny white clusters of blooms pack a huge punch of fragrance, and when our bushes are blooming the scent is simply remarkable. This bush does not produce edible almonds, but it is a great nectar plant for butterflies and other pollinators. It’s very easy to grow, but not often found for sale in most nurseries. If you come across it, snap it up and plant it in part shade for spectacular scents year-round.

It’s a shame I can’t drop some “scratch ‘n sniff” into this post to share, but if you’re near the gardens, be sure to drop by and take in all the sweet scents of summer!