The garden is potentially a space that assaults all the senses. Coupled with diverse trees, shrubs and flowers, you are presented with an assortment of plant life varying in shape, size, foliage and of course color; indeed, it is in your hands to decide whether you want your garden to present you with a riot of colors or be a calming blend of evergreens.

Apart from being a glorious vision to behold, your garden may be designed so as too engulf you with an aroma of heady scents. To this end, you have to carefully choose which plants to grow in your garden, for some plants do give off a hideous odor! The Titan Arum which originates in Sumatra, for example, has been crowned to be the worst smelling flower; while it does have a very short life span (about 36 hours), it gives off a most odious smell, one that has been likened to that of rotting flesh! In contrast, roses, lavender, lilies and honeysuckle are the perfect samples for recreating an aromatic garden. In addition, to the obvious olfactory treat, planting fragrant flowers has the benefit of keeping animals, such as deer at bay, and prevents them from possibly trampling your garden.

A visit to gardens, especially the Botanical Gardens, provides a glimpse in to how an assortment of fragrances may be combined into a novel bouquet, one that surely pleases the senses. The Denver Botanic Gardens is a notable example, where the artistic director, Rob Proctor, points out that the dry climate does limit the choice of plants that may be fruitfully cultivated. So, in lieu of lilies and roses, bunches of lavender are foiled with the silvery artemesia shrubs. The revitalizing scents of various herbs are united with the catmint and bee balm - whose smell is similar to the aroma of tea! Heliotropes - with its small violet flowers, and hyssop - with its deep orange flowers and pungent scent, also find their niche within the space of these gardens.

While planning for your garden, you may choose plants based both on their outward appearance, and on whether they produce fragrances in the morning, at night or all through the day. Plants such as angel trumpets and night scented stock produce a sweet fragrance at night, whereas the chocolate flower releases a tantalizing smell in the mornings. Then, there are citrus trees whose tangy perfume may be appreciated all through the day; for those who have not had the opportunity to cultivate flowering plants, a simple option is to procure dwarf lemon and orange trees, and place them in pots. Perennials, such as, the alyssum offers a sweet honey like smell during a sunny day. Alternatively you may plant herbs like thyme and oregano that emit a very refreshing scent when brushed against.

Finally, after selecting the plants you wish to incorporate in your garden, it is important to place them carefully so that their smells do not collide and over-power each other, but prove to be a heady, yet soothing combination of scents.

If you like Gardening....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also see:

A Love Affair With Gardening, Charming Camillias, Firescaping, Gardening for the Family, Garden Rodents, Garden Catalogs, General Gardening Tips. Gardens in the Shade, Hot Summer Cool Garden, How to Plant Leeks, Involve Your Children, Outfits for Gardening, Photograph Your Garden, Plant Care Basics, Using Leaves as Compost, What to Avoid Buying Guide, Cheap Garden Ideas, Creating Garden Berms, Garden Fragrances, Garden Lessons, Gardening for The Challenged, Gardening is Great, Gardening Math, Gardening Tools, How to Use Peat, More About Gardening, Love affair with Lilacs, Organic Gardening, Slow Down and Enjoy, Smart Plant Shopping, Tips for Beginners