Eucalyptus
I recently came across an article written by Jo Poultney. In this article she talks about how sensitive our sense of smell really is. She also mentions how adding herbal plants to your garden can not only add visual value, but the value of aromatherapy becomes "magical".
She gets into detail about how beneficial adding a plant, such as Eucalyptus, can be. I found this piece to be very insightful and I think that everyone can take something away from this after reading. I've posted the article below:
Our sense of smell is
probably one of the most important of all our senses for wellbeing. Scents can
be very evocative, provoking emotions and memories, but more importantly, they
make us feel good. Gardening provides many benefits to our health but one which
sometimes gets overlooked is the power of scent in a garden. Growing plants
that look beautiful is a joy in itself, but combine that with plants and herbs
which are scented and you have something magical.
The importance of
scent in a garden has become more popular in recent years with the growing
popularity of aromatherapy and more awareness of how gardens can help those who
have physical and mental impairments. I know of a garden designer who was
recently involved in designing a garden for children whose sight was impaired.
Not only were plants and structures which felt different and nice to touch
important, but the garden was also filled with fragrant plants to stimulate
their sense of smell and so enhance their experience of what was around them.
The aromatherapy herb
garden
Many of the essential
oils used in aromatherapy are derived from herbs which have been used for their
fragrant healing properties since ancient times. Although you may not want to
create your own oils from the plants you grow, you can make a herb garden that
is filled with those aromas that help us in our everyday lives, as well as
being useful in other ways such as for cooking and making an attractive garden.
Herbs you might like to use in an aromatherapy garden which have the properties
of an essential oil include sweet basil, whose oil promotes concentration,
Roman chamomile well known for its relaxing properties, lemon balm which is an
anti-depressant, sweet marjoram whose fragrance has a calming effect, bergamot
or bee balm which has an uplifting scent, rosemary whose smell is invigorating,
and of course, lavender whose scent is not only wonderful on a warm evening,
but has a soothing effect on all our senses. Many of these herbs also have
culinary uses, particularly the rosemary, marjoram and basil. The effects of
chamomile can also be enjoyed by making it into a tea, as can those of lemon
balm.
A perfumed border
Herbaceous borders are
the perfect place in the garden to combine both beauty and fragrance. A border
filled with scented plants will fill a summer evening with evocative fragrance
and will fill your senses when particular plants are brushed by. Some plants
you might like to consider include achillea or yarrow. This plant comes in a
variety of colours from bright yellow to soft pinks and peach. It has a fresh,
sweet herb-like scent and is known for its revitalising properties. Angelica
not only makes a great architectural statement in a border, but also has a
rich, earthy and spicy scent. Calendula or marigolds are a lovely bright flash
of orange and have a sharp, herby aroma. Made into a cream it is used to treat
a number of skin complaints. It will also keep pests such as greenfly away from
other plants. Carnations and pinks have an exotic floral fragrance and are used
for their uplifting properties. Gardenia is a beautiful plant with a heady,
slightly spicy scent and is said to be an aphrodisiac. Rose geranium has the
most gorgeous rose, floral aroma and is known for its balancing, harmonising
effects. There are many more plants you could choose for your border such as
honeysuckle, common jasmine, and lavender. But probably the plant with the most
varied but always uplifting array of scents is the rose. Old roses are still bred
today and there are a huge variety of colours and fragrances to suit all
tastes, from sweet, delicate floral scents, to rich exotic and spicy. The scent
of roses is uplifting, warming and euphoric which makes them a must for any
truly scented garden.
Fragrant container
plants
Whether you have a
conservatory or want to grow scented plants outside in garden planters, there is a large variety to
choose from. Balm of Gilead is a particular favourite of mine. Treat it as an
annual, so it is best grown in a container. The flowers are small, pink and a
little insignificant but the scent is heady and eucalyptus-like. Sweet peas are
a classic to grow in a planter, whether on your vegetable patch, patio or in
the middle of a border. Their sweet scent is fresh and reviving. The common
primrose is an early reminder of spring with its sweet mossy scent and looks
great when combined with other early flowering plants. Statuesque and fragrant
lilies are probably the most versatile of container plants and their corms can
be lifted and stored for following years. Many herbs can also be happily grown
in containers. Move pots of lavender around to catch the warmth of the sun and
release that wonderful, familiar scent. In a conservatory grow orchids and
sweet, spicy scented citrus trees.
The list of fragrant
plants is really endless. So when you are next planning a change to a border or
wondering what to plant in an unusual container, consider the scent of a plant
just as importantly as its appearance.
Garden Planters source
unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts - whatever
your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have
something for you. Run by two qualified and creative gardeners, Garden Planters
will also plant up your chosen planter with an arrangement of your choice. We
believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden - they enhance the
overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden
belongs.
https://ezinearticles.com/?Growing-and-Using-Scented-Plants&id=6812961
https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jo_Poultney/1203126
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6812961
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