Scent of a late spring garden

AN important thing to know about scent in the open garden is that there are relatively few plants whose perfume will hang on the air in such a way as to make you sniff in inquiry as you walk past.

Many things smell good when you push your nose into them, or crush them, or bring them into a warm room, but what I am thinking about this morning is walking down along the garden path and the scents we may encounter there. Pulling off a few leaves of Choisya, (the so-called Mexican Orange) and rubbing them between your fingers is a wasted exercise for these will leave an acrid odour on your skin, pungent as cheap gin.

You might equally turn away in disgust from the Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) for as soon as you brush against this, it gives off an extremely strong scent of fox. And yet that is exactly what I like about this tall, impressive bulb which each April sends up four foot fleshy stems each studded with rather long, slightly twisted mid-green leaves beloved by slugs, snails, and nowadays lily beetles. At the top of each stem the leaves grow shorter and more thickly before gathering together in a top-knot style, reminiscent of a fresh pineapple. Later, a perfect circle of brick-red (or acid yellow) blooms appear beneath the crown of leaves and these hang down in a bright and spring-like way.