Happiness in a vase!

   This morning as soon as I stepped out the door, a delightful fragrance hit me.  Oh, my!  I glanced at the wisteria...nope, it had faded.  Then I checked the jasmine...nope, there were only a few blooms still on the vines.  The citrus trees?...again blooms were long gone.  I followed the scent to find that the two gardenia bushes were in full bloom!  Oh, my!  Well, there was nothing else to do but go gather a large bouquet of the snow white blooms.  

  After poking the gardenia blooms (and a single gloriosa lily broken by the wind) into a vase, I breathed deeply and thought how that scent was almost intoxicating.  I headed back outside to pick the tomatoes and boysenberries before the sun made it unbearable to be in the gardens.  The aroma of the gardenias filled the entire yard making the work quite pleasant!  Once I was back inside, the house was filled with the same scent!  Glorious!  The Little Bayou House has never smelled so good!  Happiness in a vase!

A Favorite of Mine!

  The best part of this time of year is all of the fragrances that fill the yard.  Over the years, I have planted things that bloom at different times of the year. All of these blooms waft aromas over the hillside in waves of sumptuousness! Citrus trees, peach trees, wisteria, roses, jasmine...all leave the yard sweetly scented.  Just this week, the jasmine is starting to fade so it is being replaced by the delightful gardenias and magnolias.  I happen to like the gardenias so much that I have rooted another dozen or so!  This should just about fill the entire yard with their happy blooms and enticing scent.  

  Odd fact....gardenias belong in the coffee plant family.  Now go figure!  I knew there had to be some link as I love both! 

   Odd fact....while gardenia blooms are usually white ( a few are pale yellow), if the petals come in contact with water, they turn "coffee-brown".  While I love coffee, brown gardenia water just does not have the same appeal.

  Odd fact....gardenia blooms make great flavoring for ice cream!  The fresh blooms can be used as an ingredient in making homemade ice cream.  The ice cream tastes "flowery" and smells just like the bloom.  I have made this and it is really tasty!

  Odd fact....after the bloom fades, a small fruit appears.  When ripe, this fruit is used to make a yellow dye that can be used in food or fabric. This I have not tried!  Maybe I should!

  Odd fact....some herbal concoctions use the gardenia fruit as a fever reducer.  Another thing that I have not tried.  Maybe I should not.

  Odd fact...ok...enough odd facts about the gardenia bush.  Trust me when I say that this is a wonderful addition to any garden.  The dark green foliage and brilliant white blossoms add visual pleasure while the fragrance will knock your socks off!  If you are wearing socks and are not barefoot like I usually am.  Then there is the added bonus of using the blossoms as air freshener inside the house!  A vase of gardenias makes everything smell better!