Wednesday, September 16, 2009

A Mystery Plant



Okay. Step over here.



Now, close your eyes and breathe in.



So, what do you smell??



I know, I know. How do you describe it? Is it fresh grapefruit? Is it honeysuckle? Is it ripe mango? Is it the fragrance "Happy" by Clinique?



All I know is that there are 2 of these bushes on either side of the brick stairs leading up to our house, and every time I poke my head out the door or hop up the stairs this delicious sweet, fresh smell comes wafting over.



I called My Mom (the horticulture whiz) to ask her what the plant was, but over the phone the words "green leaves, white flowers, and fresh grapefruit" weren't very helpful.



So, does anyone know what this is? Lygustrum? Tea Olive? Or just my own, personal mysterious fragrant shrub of delight.

7 comments:

  1. Looks like a tea olive to me. I love tea olive. I don't think I've ever thought of it a grapefruit fragrance but they sure smell yummy.

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  2. no clue but it looks like the little white flowers you usually see in a boutinniere. Hmmm.. no clue but sounds delicious!

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  3. Hey Shelley, thanks for missing me. I seem to get into a "bloggers block" every now and again. But life is good!

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  4. If it is a tea olive, the blooms are different from the ones on mine - yours are much bigger and sort of waxier? I don't know - wrong word, but my tea olive blooms are tinier and a little fluffier. Wow, that is hard to describe! But they do smell absolutely amazing. Yours look almost tropical.

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  5. It looks like what we call "sweet olive" here in Louisiana. I LOVE the smell!! I've planted two of them behind my back porch, hoping that when they get big enough, their scent will sweep over me when I step out on the porch. We haven't reached that point, though. :( By the way, I LOVE your blog!!!

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