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Welcome to my Western Pennsylvania garden. Join me on a "Walk Down the Garden Path".

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Twelve Days of Gardening Gifts: Day Two, Jasmine

For Day Two of my gift giving list, I will stay with White Flower Farm's catalog just a bit longer.

Every time I look through this catalog I stop at the Jasmine page. There is something about these exotic, delicate looking flowers that calls to me. Maybe it's the thought that I know I would love to have that scent lingering throughout the house. I think I may have once sent a jasmine as a gift. Is it wrong to give gifts that appeal so strongly to yourself? I guess not, as long as you believe it would also appeal to the recipient.




In the words of WFF's writer:
"Fragrance Beyond Description in the Dead of Winter"
"Jasminum polyanthum is a handsome, subtropical vine whose dark green leaves provide a perfect backdrop for its January display of elegant and exquisitely fragrant white flowers. This is the perfume of Arabian nights, a rich, sweet scent that will fill a house or lightly carry through a southern garden."

It goes on to say: " Jasmine is easily grown as a houseplant but will not tolerate dry heat or dry soil, and temperatures above 65 degrees F are to be avoided while the buds are developing. If plants are placed in a cool spot and enjoy bright, indirect light, we guarantee bloom."

They offer their jasmine in several different pot presentations ranging in price from $42 - $62.

Check back tomorrow for the next gift in the series Twelve Days of Gardening Gifts.

Other posts in this series:
Day One, Amaryllis

16 comments:

tina said...

They are so pretty and do smell good! A friend of mine had one in Germany and brought it to work. I wanted to run off with it! lol

Anonymous said...

They do have a lovely fragrance. I've never grown it but have enjoyed it in other gardens.

Roses and Lilacs said...

The photo is lovely and I know they smell wonderfully. Sounds like they would be a problem to grow unless you have a greenhouse.
Marnie

Anonymous said...

My brother loves these and buys them regularly for his own family, but says they're very hard to keep alive in a regular house. Guess you'd just have to do your best and consider them an annual if they didn't make it! Still worth the fabulous fragrance, though---I'd consider it a real luxury if someone gave me one!

Anonymous said...

I would not mind having this decorating my home.

Cindy said...

Tina ~ haha. At least you got to enjoy it at work!

PGL ~ It's always nice to visit gardens with different things, isn't it?

Marnie ~ yes it does sound like they are a little tempermental. Maybe a gift for the advanced gardener!

OFB ~ I agree that it would be worth the fragrance, even if it only lasted one year. Which at the price would be a luxury indeed. However, when giving a gift, I always try to pick things that people wouldn't buy for themselves.

Mother Nature ~ I agree. I would welcome the challenge of getting it to rebloom!

Gail said...

I have seen this beauty at florist shops...it smells divine and would be a joy to have that scent wafting about! This is fun...10 more days to go!

gail

Cindy said...

Gail ~ 10 more days! what have I gotten myself into LOL!

Anonymous said...

I never realized you could grow Jasmine indoors. I wonder if my husband likes the smell of Jasmine...because I know just the spot for a hanging basket...

Cindy said...

Fern - hmmm, there's only one way to find out :-D And if he doesn't, you could always send it to me - lol!

Anonymous said...

Cindy--Deal! :-D

Unknown said...

MMMM!!! I can smell it already. I'd love jasmine but the plant eating cat wouldn't allow it to grow in my house.

TC said...

"Jasmine is easily grown as a houseplant but will not tolerate dry heat or dry soil, and temperatures above 65 degrees F are to be avoided while the buds are developing."

That's "easily grown??"

Cindy said...

Cinj - Yes, I've heard a lot about plant eating cats. Luckily ours only eats certain plants - and we put them up high.

TC - Well come on TC, don't you have the ability to create multiple micro-climates in your house ? ;)

TC said...

Nope, not in an old badly insulated house with two cats. And no natural sunshine to speak of till the return of spring.

Cindy said...

TC - Ha, I know about the lack of natural sunshine for sure. But just think, we are almost at the low point and should soon be heading back in the right direction.