I like to think of this year’s gardening season as the season of lavender. I have never had so many lavender flowers, and I’ve made sure to dry as much as possible. I’ll use them as little tussie-mussie gifts, decor, tea, cooking, and aromatherapy. I think lots of people have used or at least smelled lavender essential oil, but there isn’t anything quite like the scent that wafts from gently crushing lavender buds in your hands.
But lavender isn’t the only lovely scent in my garden. I get to enjoy the subtle fragrance of my ‘Chicago Peace’ rose, the perfume of bergamot mint, the astringent aroma of garden sage, the absolutely wonderfully tangy smell of tomato leaves, and so much more. I think we all like to use our senses to enjoy our gardens, but, for me, scent is the most compelling. Even garden smells that are a little “weird” draw me in. Ever smelled feverfew or rue, for example? These aren’t exactly what I’d add to a perfume, but they are indeed interesting.
As we start to clean up our gardens to ready ourselves for winter, take a moment to enjoy the scents of your garden. What garden scent is your favorite? Let me know at cg****@****ag.com.
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2026 issue of Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.
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