A Scented Garden Designed to Lift the Spirit
From savory fennel to chocolaty mint, the unexpected scents in this feel-good landscape can evoke happy memories
Scent is an integral part of any garden, but it often comes after looks and care requirements on the landscaping priority list. However, the designers of The Jo Whiley Scent Garden — one of the Feel Good Gardens at the recent Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in London — wanted to put scent first and feature a wide range of aromas in their space. Another priority for the designers was to make visitors feel relaxed, and they did this by incorporating a wall engraved with such “scent memories” as “woodland walks,” “rain on warm paving,” “fresh earth” and “new leaf growth.” The idea was that this wall would stir happy associations and remind people of the mood-enhancing role of scent.
A low concrete wall, carved with “scent memories,” winds its way through the garden. The idea for the wall came after the designers put out a request on social media, asking people to nominate their favorite smells. “Baled haylage” and “freshly turned earth” were two of the top choices, along with more unusual and personal ones, such as “dusty vinyl,” “the smell of puppies” and “the aroma of tomatoes growing in a grandparent’s greenhouse.”
The muted color palette and the soft, naturalistic planting allow the main focus to stay on the scent aspect of the garden, and the curved lines of the space gently lead visitors on a sensory journey.
The tall burgundy spikes of Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ add height and definition, as do the umbrellalike white flower clusters of Cenolophium denudatum. Pretty Geum ‘Banana Daiquiri’ (Cocktails series) and Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’ are also shown here, along with Origanum vulgare, or marjoram, with its distinctive aromatic foliage.
The tall burgundy spikes of Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ add height and definition, as do the umbrellalike white flower clusters of Cenolophium denudatum. Pretty Geum ‘Banana Daiquiri’ (Cocktails series) and Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’ are also shown here, along with Origanum vulgare, or marjoram, with its distinctive aromatic foliage.
There were five sensory gardens at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, all named after BBC Radio 2 presenters to celebrate the station’s 50th birthday. “Jo Whiley loved the idea and enjoyed getting involved,” Bridge says. “She even joined us on trips to the nursery.” Plant choices seen here include Astrantia and Alchemilla mollis, or lady’s mantle, for floral interest, teamed with the savory tang of thyme (Thymus serpyllum).
Low-growing herbs such as thyme, seen here, appear alongside footpaths, paving and next to walls to utilize every inch of the garden. Using herbs on paths in this way means that the aromas can be triggered by feet brushing against the leaves. “My favorite scent in the whole garden was from the Mentha x piperita f. citrata ‘Chocolate’,” Bridge says. As the name suggests, this mint has a strong chocolate flavor and is great grown in a pot to be used in baking and cooking.
This variety of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’) is grown for its large, fuzzy leaves. Its silvery foliage stands out among the glossy greens of the other plants to help break up the tones in the border. A Munstead Wood shrub rose (Rosa ‘Ausbernard’), with fruity notes of blackberry, blueberry and plum, and the strong aniseed scent of fennel add to the all-important aroma aspect of the garden.
“Within a few steps, you can be submersed in your own imagination or simply breathe in the fresh air,” Savill says. “This garden showcases the power of scent and its ability to improve your mood, uplift you and make you feel good.” The woody, peppery aroma of angelica is mixed with the minty smell of pennyroyal, creating a dense, earthy scent that is both soothing and evocative.
The budded Night Owl climbing rose in the center has an unusual scent of cloves and apples, while the elegant black poppy (Papaver hybridum ‘Black Peony’) provides a deep color contrast amid the fresh lime-green and white shades. At the back, foxgloves add more height and lead the way toward the woodland part of the garden.
Here, white Allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’ stands out above floaty, fragrant fennel. As part of the onion family, alliums can have a strong garlicky odor that sits well when teamed with other savory scents, such as the aniseed of fennel. “When thinking about adding scent to your own garden, it’s important to choose the right plants for the sort of garden you have,” Bridge says. “People think shade can be a problem, but there are plenty of plants that like it, such as peonies,” she says.
People’s memories of particular aromas were captured on the wall, and this design aspect of the garden proves how personal the appeal of individual scents can be. “We wanted to include aromas that transport you to a time and place. Unlocking these memories through scent can allow you the freedom to escape, but at the same time reconnect with yourself and the world around you,” Bridge says.
Tell us: What scent would you like to add to your own garden? Share your ideas in the Comments.
More
Scents and Sensibility: The Aromatherapy Garden
A Sociable Urban Garden With Imaginative Plantings
Tell us: What scent would you like to add to your own garden? Share your ideas in the Comments.
More
Scents and Sensibility: The Aromatherapy Garden
A Sociable Urban Garden With Imaginative Plantings
Event: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017
Designers: Tamara Bridge and Kate Savill
Builder: Bespoke Outdoor Spaces
When planning The Jo Whiley Scent Garden, designers Tamara Bridge (RHS Young Designer of the Year 2015) and Kate Savill wanted to transport visitors by reconnecting them with memories through imagination and scent. A lovely sunny border at the front of the garden provides a contrast to the dappled shade of the woodland-edge planting toward the back, which evokes the earthy smell of a woodland walk. Plants here include foxglove (Digitalis purpurea ‘Sutton’s Apricot’), which gives height and soft color amid all the green; white-flowering Geranium sylvaticum ‘Album’, which is ideal for shady spots; and sweet, slightly musky Angelica archangelica.