All I have to say is, Daphne!

Yes that's right. Daphne, Daphne, Daphne...You can never have enough Daphne. I took my son down to Phinney Hill in Seattle last week, and we came across the community garden area. It was really beautiful and tended carefully.

It appears that someone or thing ran amuck and flattened one of their beautiful Daphne's. In full bloom no less. Broken blooming branches everywhere. So I gathered up a few of the sad little twigs and brought them home. I am now propagating new plants from what would have been relegated to the city compost pile.

The fragrance of these unassuming shrubs will stop you in your tracks from 20 paces. You could be sniffing the air like our four-legged friends trying to find it's source if you did not know better. Their perfumed petals are always fresh and never cloying. I recommend planting at least one hundred on each side of your front door. (OK, maybe just one per side)

They will reward you year after year of behaved growth and herald in the spring everytime you open your door.

Spring has Sprung

At last...Spring has sprung all around. The bulbs are popping up everywhere and the smell of the earliest bloomers is in the air.

The flowering currants are wafting on the slightest breeze and the Mahonia is winding down. The Mahonia has the hint of Liliy of the Valley fragrance to it. Ahhh, a little bit of heaven right here in our own yards.

As the daffodils start to open, cut a bunch and bring em in. If this does not cure the last of the winter blues, I don't know what will. Remember, change the water at least every other day in the vase and dissolve just a pinch of sugar in that water. They will last much longer.

There is alot of work to be done to make the garden spectaular, so I'm off. More about fragrant spring flowering to come.