Scent Gardens

[Anne]

I love walking around a garden that just smells good. I wonder if people are thinking only visuals when planning a garden, or is scent also a factor? Any reccomendations for specific plants?

[Steve]

Whoa, now this is a pretty pleasant topic and even topical for me, today. We currently have a problematic landscape where the homeowners need to keep their garbage can right near a gate which is also just outside the garage door as well as alongside the entry path to the back yard. In other words, it is hard to miss and when the Summer Sun sets in. The garbage container invariably requires a deoderant.
What we are doing is arranging to plant the most aromatic possible plants alongside the path itself. I am thinking Lavender, mostly, especially inasmuch as they look marvelous mass-planted in a group and they smell terrific at night with a fairly powerful scent. We may also distrubute some various kinds of Thyme (Lemon Thyme, Wooly Thyme) and the like below the Lavender. Catmint always smells terrific and is a nice flowering plant as well and we are considering it. Rosemary, Basil, many herbs and spicy plants are available for just this purpose. An additional benefit of Thyme here is that it stays mostly green throughout the Winters.
Reno, Nevada, where I live, has some restricting elements, including a lack of humidity and Winters just nasty enough to kill off prospective grand smellers like Jasmine and Gardenias, two of my very favorite scented species. Nevertheless, Santolina is popular here and does a great smelling job, Sweet Woodruff, Roses of all kinds even the Rugosa's smell wonderful. Some shrubs, such as Butterfly Bush, Lilacs (needless to say!), Honeysuckle and some Currant species are aromatic as well.
A person can design a garden where different scents dominate in different areas. A grove of shrub Roses has few peers for sheer wonderful smell. A small section dedicated to lavender may be the most powerful, yet Santolinas, Sages and groundcovering Thyme Species are also in the mix for "best smellers". Put some Thyme in a pathway, so that footsteps actually bruise them enough to open up their scent and you have a marvelous autosmell zone. So, yes, it is possible to create incredible smelly and satisfying gardens.

[neetanddave]

I have quite a few herbs planted in my garden, strategically located to brush up against one's pants legs as you walk through the pathways. Lemon thyme in the cobbled entrance, and Greek Oregano along the entrance. Several other thymes as you go down the stepsm and some rosemary as well.

My husband made a whole patio out of small round wood blocks, and we planted mint among the spaces in between. It went crazy wild as mint usually does, so I have to keep it mowed to keep it in check. But the scent as you rest on the garden bench is GREAT!

[Anne]

I have quite a few herbs planted in my garden, strategically located to brush up against one's pants legs as you walk through the pathways. Lemon thyme in the cobbled entrance, and Greek Oregano along the entrance. Several other thymes as you go down the stepsm and some rosemary as well.

My husband made a whole patio out of small round wood blocks, and we planted mint among the spaces in between. It went crazy wild as mint usually does, so I have to keep it mowed to keep it in check. But the scent as you rest on the garden bench is GREAT!

Sounds pretty amazing, like a very sensual garden.

[Steve]

Mint can be either the biggest pain in the butt or the most marvelous scent ever. It really travels, maybe the strongest scent in planthood. I use a ton of Thymes, myself and just love Lemon Thyme. By the way, we planted a bunch of lemon Grass at this gourmet cook's place, here in Reno, which he uses often in his creations. Ever try that? It looks fantastic in a garden. I mean, he has Rosemary, basil, all the usual suspects, but he really likes using that Lemon grass.

[neetanddave]

By the way, we planted a bunch of lemon Grass at this gourmet cook's place, here in Reno, which he uses often in his creations. Ever try that? It looks fantastic in a garden. I mean, he has Rosemary, basil, all the usual suspects, but he really likes using that Lemon grass.

Never grown it. Love the flavor in Vietnamese food, though. Might have to give it a try.