A morning of storm and rain flattened many of our garden plants and caused flooding in parts of Norwich but by evening the weather cleared. Our annual Show is due on Saturday and the weather has badly affected flowers, fruit and vegetables.
We welcomed friends from the Hethersett Horticultural Club and enjoyed chatting with them over refreshments.
Our speaker was John Holden of the Aromafolia Nursery, Barbers Farm, Leys Lane, Old Buckenham set up in 2005. As the name implies, he is interested in scented leaves rather than flowers. Salvias make up the bulk of his collection with their square stems and two-lipped flowers. Sage, Salvia officinalis, is one of the best known of this extensive family.
Culinary herbs in general are well known for their scents, but there are many other plants with scented leaves. Such foliage releases scents after rain or when handled, so the plants are an attractive addition to any garden. John described these as touch 'n sniff gardens.
Scents can be resinous (Eucalyptus pulverulenta, Pelargonium fragrans, Telekia speciosa and Liquidamber), fruity (lemon balm, Salvia dorisiana, S.x jamensis, Pelargonium 'Queen of Lemons'), spicey (Dictamnus albus, Thymus serpillum, Ferrula communis, Helichrysum 'Dartington') or floral (Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses', P.'Vandersea', Salvia 'Mulberry Jane').
The amount of enjoyment we get from scents varies from person to person to the extent that some people hate the smell that others like. Catmints come in this dubious category. And not all cats are sent crazy by catmint either! Clary sage has been called sweaty housemaids, while dragon arum spathes send out the scent of rotting meat for a few days to attract flies for pollination.
John gave us examples of scented leaved plants that can be used in borders, in containers, as hedges or as specimen trees.
Our next meeting is in the Church Hall Cringleford at 7.30pm on 9th September when Tony Goode will speak to us on Crocuses. Nonmembers welcome. Charge £1