Symphony of May Colors

I'm going to make this wordless, just enjoy yourself the symphony of May colours: Tulips, Forget-me-not, Lilac, Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Azaleeas, Cherry, Apple and Pear trees in full bloom, are really abundant on walkways, parks, botanical gardens, on streets, in balconies and community gardens.

Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet"

It's been a year since I've included my first cutting of Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet" (you may read the previous blog post here:  "Concolor Lace, pelargonium with vivid flowers" ) to our collection.  If the foliage smell is not so pleasantly as you would wish (sweet pungent with some nutty notes), I doubt you may find many other scented pelargoniums with such a showy vibrant red-pink blossoms and fancy velvety crinkled leaves.

Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet" flowers

I believe in love at first sight ;-) thus I planted the rooted cutting into an ornamental pot, which was chosen accordingly to provide more color and beauty at any sight. Also the pot has little feet to allow drainage and air flow and the roots have enough space to expand.

Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet",  known also as "Filbert scented pelargonium" and "Concolor Lace"

When overwintered indoor under artificial light, its wired branches have grown into a desired shape and were just gently pruned (the plant has around 40 cm high). I may assure you that it is a prolific bloomer and,  after a month since started to bloom, has tens of florets which are continuing to fascinate me.

A Growing and Blooming Affair at UBC Botanical Garden

We had an incredible sunny weekend in Vancouver and we spent our Saturday walking throughout UBC Botanical Garden.

"A Growing Affair", May 12- plant sale area, UBC Botanical Garden , Vancouver

Well, the truth is we decided a month before to participate to " A Growing Affair" event,  having fun, participating to demos / workshops and, of course,  looking for new additions to our garden.  






We started our day visiting the plant  sale area where was featured a great collection of plants, shrubs and trees propagated by the "Friends of the Garden" team.

Perennials for sale - "A Growing Affair" event 

I'm pretty sure that the generous weather and affordable prices  (mostly bellow $10) made this event a successful spring sale.



Interesting were Geranium Dalmaticum, Geranium Cantabrigiense (a cross between Geranium dalmaticum and Geranium macrorrhizum),  and geranium "Little Gem".

Pelargoniums were featured in tender plants area. Just couple of scented-leafed: tomentosum, Charity, Concolor Lace and Ashby.

Pelargoniums for sale - "A Growing Affair" event

After finished  the plant shopping, we've participated to a workshop about garden bugs and they featured Mac's  Field Guide. I've checked and aphids are still listed under "Bad Garden Bugs" ;-)

Mac's Field Guide of Garden Bugs

Later we met other nature enthusiasts under the Ginkgo tree in front of the gatehouse and joined them for a garden tour.
  
Following Asian Way, close to the Greenheart Canopy Walkway (a treetop walkway longer than 300 meters, with heights up to 17.5 meters) we found a Melliodendron Xylocarpum in full bloom. It is a 4-5 meters high tree whose pink flowers bell-shaped look really fragile in the sun.

Melliodendron Xylocarpum in bloom - UBC Botanical Garden

Melliodendron Xylocarpum tag

As per my understanding, the tree has more than 15 years old (was planted in 1996 according to the tag) and last year made fruits with the professional help of Ian Gillam's who pollinate some of its flowers.

Follow the link to see an intriguing picture of its fruit on UBC's "Botany Photo of the Day" thread of February 10th. 

Its name, "honey tree" (Melliodendron) induced me an illusion of a honey flavored flowers, but I was a little disappointed by their insignificant blooming scent.

Espaliered Apples in bloom (2D shaped) at UBC Botanical Garden

Most of the fruit trees from the " Food Garden" area were in full bloom as well.
The Art of Espalier is very well represented at UBC Botanical Garden ...

Blooming pathways in May- UBC Botanical Garden

 and the multitude of colorful flowers bordering the pathways is an amazing sightseeing.

Bee gathering pollen of Meconopsis "Linghelm" flower

 
It seemed to be "A Growing and  Blooming Affair" which made our day really special. 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all women's with tender hearts, whose roles were so complicated raising us with affection and devotion.  There are no words to convey our appreciation for their patience and countless sacrifices during our entire life.

Miniature gardens with ScentedLeaf Pelargoniums near VanDusen Garden Entrance

Attar of Roses

We’ll be always grateful for their implication to shape our future for better, and for their support to pursue our projects and follow our dreams.

Last year we did an workshop,  helping the children from our neighborhood to make micro moss gardens with succulents in oyster shells as Mother's Day gifts for their mothers and teachers.

Micro moss gardens with succulents in oyster shells

Candy Dancer, Lemon Rose scented pelargonium

But what may be more suitable for a Mother's Day Gift  than a Fairy Garden with plants exulting her favorite scent?  Choose from a variety of plants with lemon, rose, lemon-rose, apple-nutmeg, coconut or cinnamon scents.

Special for 2012 Mother's Day, we put a lot of time and energy into making floral arrangements and miniature gardens featuring plants with edible, decorative scented foliage.

Joyful unique presents for beloved mothers or grandmothers, like usual decorated with figurines, moss, colored gravel, rocks and accent plants. Some of the protagonists are Scented Geraniums / Pelargoniums   Attar of Roses (rose), Citronella (lemon), Filicifolium (pine), x Fragrance (apple-nutmeg), Candy Dancer (lemon-rose) or Grossularioides (Coconut).

Pelargonium Filicifolium, Fern Leaf, Pine Scented

It's been a while since I wrote this poem to my mother, and it is my best way to express my gratitude for my treasured heirlooms. Hope you'll like it, too.

Pelargonium xFragrans,  apple-nutmeg scented foliage

Thank you, My Mother!
 

Thank you for your patience with which you've poured charm and magic into my soul's porch 

To fulfill my desire for beauty and my illiteracy

Thank you for the nights known only by us, when you calmed my pain and you've made yourself a torch

To brighten up my unsleeping, to guide my faith's journey.

Thank you for your stories you've told me dozens of times with love and devotion

Shaping my thinking with examples of kindness and acts of bravery

Thank you for your warm smile and for the heavenly realm in which you raised me up with affection

Giving me the courage to follow my dreams bravely.

Thank you always!

And today, like every year, I give you as gift not just a snowdrop. A full carpet of flowers in bloom

That you deserved it, is blanketed your way, by my paid homage

To your tender heart with which I've grown and for the treasures of my heirloom

That you have given me as precious heritage.

Scented miniature gardens

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms.

Pelargoniums Start to Bloom

Apple- Nutmeg Pelargonium flowers

Wondering through Vancouver parks and seeing everywhere spring blossoms leads my mind to my scentsy good luck amulets with mauve, pink or white flowers which would protect persons and share scent'sational joy everywhere. (of course, I'm talking about unconventional amulets - the scented-leaf pelargoniums / geraniums)

Miniature Garden with Pelargonium xFragrans ( apple nutmeg scented) in bloom

April marked again to Vancouverites the celebration of beauty of the blooming ornamental cherries through Vancouver Cherry Blossoms Festival.  Dance, Music and Art Exhibitions, Haiku Contest, Tree Talks and Walks... highlighted the brilliance of nature's rebirth and the joys of springtime.

Miniature garden with Apple-Nutmeg pelargonium (xFragrans) in bloom

My scented-leaf pelargoniums start to open shiny their flowers, perhaps inspired by the magic of the pinkish decor, looking like green gems with cream-pink incrustations. 

Citronella scented pelargonium- first flower of the season

Anyhow, this inspirational haiku tries to capture the essence of season:


"Pelargoniums bloom
Bees began to pollinate
Signs of summer"

Citronella scentedleaf pelargonium started to bloom