All the Dirt on Gardening

Using plants with scented flowers, leaves and stems adds another reason to go outside, even on the hottest days. Of course, we think of Lilacs, Mockorange, Roses, and Flowering Tobacco but there are so many more that add to the experience of being out in the yard, on a patio, or in public gardens.  Many annual, perennial, woody and herbaceous plants call out to be touched. It is irresistible to reach out and touch Basil, Borage, Lavender, and Parsley, or, to stop and smell Pine, Mint,  Jasmine, Rosemary, Alyssum, Dianthus, and Thyme.  And, the scent of spring bulb flowers such as Hyacinths, Daffodils and Fritillaria all make us bend to their height. Several scented plants bloom only at night and are pollinated by moths. Datura is a favorite because it begins to unfurl late in the afternoon and will bloom while you stand there for a few minutes.  The visually impaired and children are drawn to a scented garden. Sometimes new hybrids of old fashioned plant...

Rijnveld's Early Sensation daffodil started blooming about a week ago and is still sending up shoots and flower buds. It is planted at the northern base of the roots of an Osage Orange Tree. Rijnveld's Early Sensation is only 6 to 8 inches tall with the classic yellow trumpet shaped flower. Since they don't mind snow and freezing temperatures, they bloom with the Crocus bulbs, making a sweet late-winter display. This variety does not multiply very rapidly, taking its sweet time to fill a space. If a clump stops blooming, mark the spot for dividing and transplanting at the end of the summer. I use strips of narrow Venetian blinds for markers. They stay in place pretty well for a season. For the most part, we don't prune daffodil foliage but if you like to tidy the garden, wait until after the leaves and stems all turn yellow. Unlike some Daffodils, Rijnveld's Early Sensation are inexpensive to start, and they are easy to find at online vendors. They are c...