Scents of the seasons

Fragrance is a very personal and subtle tool that can bring another dimension to the garden. Each of us has a unique sense of smell, and scent can make the most beautiful bloom even more enticing. We are often aware of an aroma before coming upon a plant, while with others we need to bury our faces into the blooms, or crush the leaves to release the unseen spirit. It is not only flowers and leaves that carry scent – fruit, seedpods, bark, roots and buds can also be aromatic.

Fragrance is especially valuable in the dormant months of winter, when there can be less to appeal to the eye. Anticipated scents of a spring garden are intoxicating; summer’s abundance offers a sweet shop of romantic options, while autumn’s aromas can offer a surprise among the burnished hues.

Descriptions of fragrance are more difficult to define than colours, and are perceived differently by each of us; what may be considered