Garden Fragrances: Winter Foliage

I adore fragrance in the garden.  So I was delighted to find that there is a new theme in the making: a monthly report on garden perfumes, thanks to Wellywoman.  I promptly set about to check the available fragrances in the small, sunny garden, only to find a curious fact.

As I say, I do love fragrant plants.  But oddly enough, although some are in bloom at present, they are nearly all plants in which the foliage is more noticeably fragrant than the flowers.

There is, of course, the Spanish lavender (Lavendula stoechas "Madrid"), still blossoming sturdily away and feeding pollinators.  But now I have a question: are the bees drawn by the odour of the leaves or of the flowers, or perhaps the deep colour is still the most obvious attraction.  (For pictures of the enthusiasm shown over the lavender on the first really warm morning after some frost, check my earlier Wordless on Wednesday post.)

Two other fragrant plants have a few blooms at present.  The Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage) "Autumn Moon" is nearly at the end of its three month blooming extravaganza.  Mostly there are only the maroon-coloured bracts left.  Fortunately, the foliage is still as fragrant as ever, with its minty sage smell, indistinguishable (to my nose) between blossom and leaf.

Salvia greggii "Autumn Moon"

Salvia greggii "Flame"

And there is rosemary.  Given the size of the flowers, I assume most of the scent is coming from the leaves.

With some plants, there is no question.  The lemon thyme is bloomless; even the wonderful foliage fragrance is only released if the leaves are rubbed.

And the Chrysactinia likewise...

Such is my first fragrance tour around the garden proper.  On the patio, however, it is a different matter.  There the rose "Sun Flare", in full bloom just now, has a light, sweet fragrance deep in its classic yellow petals.

But for all that, the best scent in the entire yard comes from neither leaf nor flower, but from fruit.  The sweet fragrance of ripe oranges is rich around the laden orange tree.