Evening scented gardens

Hooray looks like the warm summer nights are on the way. , now we can enjoy the garden at its best. A glass or two of Roja, and taking in the evening fragrances wafting across the garden. Our  sense of smell is woven into our memory banks, and what better way of stimulating them than having an array of different nocturnal scented plants, Once the sun sets these amazing plants get to work, releasing their scent into the evening air.

Soft lights and candles can create the ambience, but nothing compares to the lasting memory of the nightime fragrances of the garden. So here are a few which Iv just suggested to a client of Villa Care Menorca.

Lady of the night (Cestrum Nocturnum)

This is the strongest fragrance of plants I have come across, as the sun sets the creamy white flowers of this evergreen shrub burst into life. Describing the fragrance is not easy, as it conveys many complex notes, a musky jasmine, with a hint of cinnamon, very sweet and intense. Plant it north south of your garden, not near your terrace, so that it is carried in the evening air. An amazing plant that just keeps on through the summer nights.

Jasminium Sambac

This is part of the Jasmin family, native to Southeast Asia, but I didn’t travel that far to buy it, Truvi is the best garden centre for most plants, especially this variety. It’s evergreen with small clusters of creamy white flowers that are simply divine. Beautiful fragrance not overpowering, and the flowers can be used for a jasmine infusion. Plant it either in the ground or pot near to your terrace or outside a bedroom window, the exotic aroma is heavenly. Water little and often in the hotter months.

 Nicotiana Tabacco plant

These are winners every time, in my opinion totally under estimated. A, profusion of colours from fucia pinks , whites, to yellows. Flowering from early summer to late October. When the flowers normally open at dusk the fragrance is  subtle . On mass they are quite amazing, they will grow in any soil. Spanish locals often refer to them as a weed, as they will grow any where. In my mind they are a welcome site in any garden or patio pot and deserve more merit than they receive. Collect the peppercorn seeds when they flower, its quite therapeutic, then keep them until next spring and scatter them in those spaces where nothing seems to grow.

In the meantime try to keep out of the searing heat of the day and celebrate those nocturnal scented plants in your garden after dusk. See photos of the above plants  attached.