The night-blooming cereus is at it again. Technically, it’s Epiphyllum oxypetalum. For years, I read that the plants had to be old and pot-bound before they would bloom. A few years ago, I decided to try something different. I repotted my big, gangly and frankly ugly plant in the fall and fed it in the spring with a balanced organic plant food when I took it outside into partial shade for the summer. It bloomed in late August with tons of flowers. Last fall, I took cuttings and stuck them in a pot of medium. This summer with food and a vacation outdoors, 12 flower buds appeared on the new plant. But it rained a lot when the little buds were emerging and at about two inches long, all but four blasted — they turned pink and dropped off. I’m sure it was the wet.
Last week however, four buds opened into 10-inch scented flowers on the same night, and this time, I didn’t miss the event. I got to take a few photos with my phone. The fragrance is complex, but I would say that the dominant aroma is little bit like wintergreen. What do you think?
When I see a beautiful flower, the first thing I do is lean in to sample its fragrance. If there is no perfume to share, I find the blossom somewhat lacking. Flowers and fragrance create the total package, a full experience. I’ve written several books on gardening, and taken photographs that I hope will communicate what I see. But I haven’t had an opportunity to share all that my nose smells, until now.
There have been a good number of books written about garden fragrance, ones on herbs and flowers. Most of the books I’ve seen say “fragrant,” when that’s relevant. A few rely on lyrical portrayals describing flowers as if they were fine wines. That’s worthwhile…to a point. I want to know more and say more, but I have to admit, for the most part, one needs to have a rudimentary scent vocabulary to convey more about specific plants. For the most part, these are analogies. The leaves of one plant might smell like pineapple, the flowers of another could smell like Juicy Fruit gum.
Most flowers have subtle aromas. Few are overwhelming, and being so very natural, even the strongest of the nicest isn’t as overpowering as too much perfume or throat choking fabric softener. I’m sorry that modern youth spend so little time experiencing the outdoors. I’m not sure these kids will ever turn to natural scents and give up their body sprays and celebrity perfumes sold at the drugstore.
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