This morning's hike was a quick one as I heard Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, howling like no one's business. That meant only one thing...another cat was in the yard. While Ms. Nycto may look huge and may have a loud howl, that is about the extent of her ability to defend herself. She is after all...a princess....and, well, one of royalty does not tussle. Her best idea is to climb the nearest tree not knowing that other cats can climb equally as well if not better. The tree climbing idea is not a bad one except Ms. Nycto has yet to figure out how to get back down out of a tree. She sits and meows plaintively in hopes that Son will climb up after her. My idea? Leave her be. She will learn that what goes up...must come down. Her doleful calls pull at the heartstrings, however, so I try to divert the whole event.
It was when I went through the east garden gate that I had to stop in my tracks regardless of an impending cat brawl. Wafting in the air was the sweet scent of peaches...or apricots...or something! Yep, the Tea Olive was in bloom and the delightful aroma overpowered the urge to rescue a helpless princess. The tiny blossoms had captured my attention! Oh, my goodness! There appear to be enough that I may dry them for future use in tisanes!
Tea Olive is a shrub that has the tiniest blossoms but the largest scent. The one quarter inch blooms can fill an entire garden with a peachy fragrance like none other. These blossoms are often infused in tisanes to give the tea-drinker a most pleasant experience. The blossoms can also be added to jellies, baked goods, soaps and, well, just about anything you wish to have a delightful scent.
My pause at the garden gate was soon interrupted by the Bayou Princess. She had come to glare at me as if to say, "Why did you not come when I summoned you?" She looked none the worse for wear and prissed her way to the front step and demanded to be let back inside. She had already had enough frustration for the day and needed a nap! I gladly consented so I could continue my hike in peace.
It is definitely the wrong time of the year for the little shrub to be blooming but, in view of our lack of cold this winter, I guess this is as good of a time as any. The tea olive bushes surprised me with their intense aroma as I headed out the east gate this morning. At first, I pondered just what smelled so sweet but then I remembered that scent...apricots!...and knew right away that the tea olives were in bloom. A quick check beside the garden gate proved that I was correct. Both bushes were blooming their little hearts out! Perhaps it is the wrong time of year but the shrubs threw caution to the wind and budded early.
The tea olives are evergreens that produce a tiny (think 1/4 inch) flower that gives off an amazing aroma. This scent does indeed evoke thoughts of apricots. Some folks say it reminds them a lot of apricots mixed with jasmine. Maybe? What the blooms lack in showiness, they sure make up for with sweet-smelling happiness! This is just another of the gloriously scented blooms that grow in the Deep South.
The only problem that I have with the shrubs is that they are slow growing. I had hopes that by this time, I would be collecting enough of those tiny blooms to be making into teas and jellies. The blooms give teas a delightful flowery or fruity taste.
A winter without cold is rather disheartening. Maybe my little shrubs knew that my spirits needed lifting so they offered the best cure possible. Finding them at the beginning of my daily hike, proved to brighten the thoughts tremendously. Just imagine what a cup of tea made with the flowers would do!
