Sweet Vanilla Scent

Valerian has become so widespread that no one can say for certain just where it is considered a native plant and where man has introduced it.  Medical properties attributed to this plant over several centuries have resulted in it growing on nearly every continent.  We have found Valerian in our gardens for so long that we cannot remember its original source to us.  Every year we find more of these plants in our gardens and all are welcome to stay.

Root extracts contain the substances claimed to have beneficial health impacts on humans.  As is the case with virtually all medicines, there may be a dangerous downside here.  Taking roots means killing the plant so we have never ventured toward self produced extracts.  My last year of employment was emotionally difficult since administration had targeted me for elimination and I did regularly use purchased Valerian pills during this time period.  Then it seemed to help keep me calm and peaceful.  Now I gain similar benefits from the appearance of the plants throughout our gardens.

 Our attraction to this plant is the sweet scent given off by the flowers when the sun shines upon them.  The perfume is a little overbearing but how can there ever be too much of a vanilla scent?  Frequently a bee is found to be working the flowers very close to where I place my nose.  I am calmed by the flowers aroma and the bees also appear peaceful.  We have to date had no interactions other than our close proximity to each other.

Some find Valerian's tall and rangy growth unsightly.  At just over six feet tall, I am able to smell the flowers while standing.  The upper portions of the plant are mostly open.  When the flowers go past we simply prune them back to low green growth.  The scent and its calming effect on all who come near is the reason that we have this plant.  Ageing has dulled many of my senses but my ability to take in and enjoy a flower's perfume is still sharp.

Cardinal Flower Rescue

Native plants hold a particular fascination for us.  Nothing is ever simple and in this case we have the conflict between plants taken from the wild and having beautiful flowers in the garden.  In this case, we bought our first plant so were not directly involved in its possible wild harvest.  Cardinal Flower lends itself to cultivation.  Our plants have been in our garden for at least two decades and number far greater than the single plant purchased so long ago.  It is likely that our first plant was grown at a Sandy Mush Herb Nursery in Asheville, NC.

Various books describe Cardinal Flower as hardy to zone 4.  We have only seen this plant in the wild twice and both sightings were well south and east of our home.  Early spring appears to be an extremely perilous time for this plant.  When the snow cover melts, bright green leaves clearly mark the locations where the plant has grown during winter.  Then the freezes and frosts inevitably occur.  With no protection from location or cover, the plants in the first photo show serious damage.  Overnight temperatures in the teens are forecast for the weekend.  Protective action must be taken now.

This cluster of plants are close to the stone wall that anchors the center of our garden.  Located on the north side of the wall, these plants are shielded from the cold air that pours down from the ridge and sweeps across our garden.  The stone wall also stores heat and that has helped these plants survive to date.  We plan to cover these plants in place with a plastic tub this weekend.  Two bottles of warm water may be placed near the plants.  Chances favor the survival of these plants with help.

Damaged plants that appeared still alive were cleaned up and placed in pots.  These plants will spend the next several weeks on the wall just outside of the basement door.  When severe cold threatens, a quick move into the basement will keep these plants alive.  With luck we will have seventeen lively Cardinal Flower plants to scatter about when the weather stabilizes.

One of these potted plants is not like the others.  Since each mature Cardinal Flower plant should produce six daughter plants, full trays could have been possible.  Faced with one empty square my choice was to disturb an entire cluster for a single plant or pot up the Valerian plant that was already out of the ground.  With its reddish cast and completely different leaf structure, it should be easy to spot!

We have numerous small Gloriosa Daisy plants showing green leaves.  Potting them up is next on the list for today.  Light rain is falling and some might think it strange to see me digging in the garden while getting wet.  One has to take advantage of the conditions each day offers.  Those who know me already find me to be a bit different.  Of course some of those people spend April 1 standing in the rain with cold water up to their waist trying to catch a trout.

Soothing Scents in the Garden

One of the plants we grow in the garden for its fragrance is valerian, Valeriana officinalis.  This plant is well known to have a tranquilizing effect.  The fragrance is a bit odd.  Some people find it pleasant others do not.  We both like it and we are not alone.  Amy had no trouble getting several pictures of this bee and butterfly.  They were too occupied and quieted by the valerian to notice her or the camera.

   

This butterfly looks very much like one I saw on the stinging nettles the other day.   I still can't identify it.                                                                                          

These two  Ctenucha virginica moths were perfectly happy to stick around for their close up.    The valerian had their undivided attention. These are interesting moths.  I love those feathery antennae.

 Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day. The  evening is was delightfully cool so we had the living room window open.  From what seemed like far off came an incredible coyote serenade.  This was not a single howl, but something more like a large chorus.  We were watching a movie so I can tell you the noise outside was loud.  Ed muted the sound to really listen, but in what seemed like a just couple of seconds the coyotes went completely silent.  How do they do that?  We have big sky here and the stars were beautiful.  Last night was also the first night I noticed the lightening bugs blinking on and off above the garden.

Again today the weather is perfect for spending time in the garden.  Time to get the weed bucket, stop by the valerian for a good whiff and get to work!