Memorial Day Blooms
Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember the people who have served our country. You may know someone who is serving now or has served in the past. You may have lost someone. Scents are a powerful memory trigger, and can remind us of places and people, so today I'm featuring a trio of fragrant blooms.
First is Heliotropium arborescens 'Fragrant Delight'. The vanilla scent of these flowers always causes me to stop for a second to appreciate them. It takes me back into many different happy memories and leaves a smile on my face.
The chocolate-orange scent of Glumicalyx goseloides reminds me of Christmases past, when my brother and I would always get those chocolate oranges that you whack on a hard surface to break into wedges. This plant, and now this scent, also remind me of my adventure with Peter, the Outlaw, and Vickie, the Independent Gardener last summer.
Hemerocallis fulva, the lemon daylily, is reaching full bloom now. The lemon blossom scent wafts down the path and causes me to pause, take a deep breath, and smile contentedly. No specific memories here, exactly, just happiness.
Happy Memorial Day. I hope you take some time to stop and remember, and maybe smell a flower.
Oh, that's a very pretty and full-flowering swath of the lemon daylily. The deer don't bother it? I've heard daylilies are edible, so I'm surprised.
ReplyDeleteDaylilies are edible, which makes it very strange that they are, apparently deer resistant in my garden. They've nipped a bud or two before, but never bothered them much. So strange.
DeleteFragrances are serious memory triggers, aren't they? The scent of Sweet peas always reminds me of my mother's garden. Sometimes I get a whiff of something that makes me nostalgic and I can't even remember why. The Hemerocallis fulva looks stunning in your garden bed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are. I love natural scents. A little ironic, given that I can't stand perfumes or scented candles.
DeleteThat's a nice Memorial Day testimonial. I love that Glumiclyx, which I looked up again, only to be reminded that it wants regular water - oh well...
ReplyDeleteSorry to tease you again with the Glumicalyx, Kris. I'm afraid it won't be the last time as it's just starting to bloom and is absolutely loaded with buds.
DeleteI joined in your Memorial Day celebration without even knowing it: picked a red rose this morning...smells divine.
ReplyDeleteI only have wild roses to sniff. The baldhip rose smells like bubblegum to my nose. :)
DeleteFragrant Delight looks elegant too, lovely!
ReplyDeleteSo far it's every bit as elegant and lovely as the cultivar I always used to grow, 'Marine'. I should get one of those this year, too, so I can compare the growth habit and fragrance. Supposedly, Fragrant Delight has a stronger fragrance and Marine is more compact.
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