Sunday, December 12, 2010

December World - Fragrance

12 10 10 Lavender
Lavender in December-Still Fragrant
Our December World still has a fragrance. I stepped out the front door and down the steps and out of habit I reached to touch the lavender next to the stairway. Running my hand along the leaves and then placing my hand up to my face, I smell a summer smell. The leaves this time of year are a silvery-gray-green but they hold a sweet lavender smell that I adore.

12 10 10 Rosemary
Rosemary
My eyes started looking for other things that might have fragrance and I spotted my new rosemary plants up by the birdfeeder. They still have a few purple blossoms on the ends and as I kneel to take a photo or two I spot a bee buzzing near-by! I am surprised.


12 10 10 Violets
Violet
Around the corner and back to the back steps I spot my favorite cold weather fragrant flower...the violet. There are just a few starting to bloom but each flower holds a potent gift of violet goodness. Besides....who can resist a purple flower?

12 10 10 Oregano
Oregano-Still a few leaves to pluck and bring up to the kitchen.
My garden is pretty much sleeping for the winter but tucked into Mr. B's box are a few herbs and these give a fragrance to winter as well. He has thyme, oregano, and chives all hanging in there despite our cold temperatures.

12 6 10 Peas in the box
Peas late in the season
I notice that the peas we tucked in the box a few months ago have woke up and are growing. It will be interesting to see if they continue to grow.

12 6 10 Garden Box and Compost Pile
Garden box and my leaf pile.
The rest of the garden is pretty much done and the pile of leaves there in the background will soon be spread over the remaining boxes as a nice winter blanket. The smell of the leaves as they decay is rich and potent, ever promising to protect the few plants that are left for the winter and then to enrich the soil when we till them under in the spring.

So there you have our fragrant December World....perhaps you have some smell that reminds of the coming winter. I encourage you to open your sense of smell this month and see if you can discover some odor to enjoy. Wood smoke? Pine boughs?

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Thanks to Palmy from Mens Sana who sent me a link to her fragrance entry....you will need to translate if you don't speak Italian.