GARDEN AROMAS

There are delightful scents to be found in the leaves, bark, flowers, and fruits of many garden plants. Amongst the well known plants that offer pleasant perfumes we have those that have been cultivated for centuries such as ……

Carnation, once named Gillyflower, Dianthus spp

Daphne spp odora, D. pontica D. burkwoodii

Evening Primrose Oenothera odorense

Flowering Tobacco, Scented Tobacco- Nicotiana alata syn N. affinis

Geranium Geranium bourbon, Pelargonium graveolens

Heliotrope, Heliotropium spp

Honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima  sweet, satisfying perfume

Hyacinth  Hyacinthus orientalis heavy, overpowering scent

Iris spp including the Flag Iris are pleasantly perfumed

Jasmine Jasminum officinale, J. angular, J. polyanthemum

Lavender spp Lavendula officinalis, L.dentata – a favourite

Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis – lemony scent

Lilac Syringa vulgaris and its hybrids- exquisite perfume

Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis- strong, distinctive scent

Magnolias sinensis, M. grandiflora and others

Mexican Orange Blossom Choisya ternata –scent is similar to orange blossom

Mock Orange, Philadelphus – Philadelphus coronarius, strongly sweet scented

Murraya paniculata sweet scented

Orange Blossom Citrus aurantium – heavenly perfume

Osmanthus, Sweet Olive Osmanthus fragrans – exquisite perfume of apricots

Pelargoniums offer many scented leaf varieties including P. graveolens. P.tomentosum

Peppermint Mentha piperita  clean, refreshing  scented leaves and flowers

Petunias  – have attractive perfume in warm evenings

Roses  spp one of the most popular of all fragrant flowers

Sweet Alice Alyssum used in edgings has a scent like hawthorn

Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus – soft, powdery sweet elusive perfume

Viburnum fragrans – also many hybrids with perfumed flowers

Violet, Viola Viola odorata  - is the true violet perfume

Wisteria Wisteria floribunda in arbors and walkways can offer unforgettable delight

 

Discover more about perfumes by visiting our site

http://www.breathing-fragrance.com

How To Dry Herbs

How to Dry Herbs and Retain Their Quality

Getting herbs from supermarket are not advised, since they have stored there for long time. It is advised to cultivate them in your garden and drying them personally. In this case, you will obtain the highest quality of herbs.

Considering there are many ways of drying herbs, the best of them is to dry them in absolute air. This way assists in maintaining the basic contents of herbs like natural oil. This way of drying is advised also for some herbs that have not high moisture content, such as bay, oregano and thyme.

How to Air Dry Herbs

It can cut herbs in the mid morning, as soon as confirming that the dew has dried. It must remove any insect damage or disease leaves. Herbs can put under cool water. Four or five small bundles of the herbs may be made. They may tied with string or using a band of rubber. Herbs bundles can be hanged in a ventilated place and left to be dried.

To use paper bags in drying herbs is a good method. The paper may be punched firstly. Put the small bundles of herbs into the paper bags and hang them. A couple of weeks later, you can check your herbs and see that they are dried completely.

Way of Drying Herbs with a Dehydrator

In fact the drying of herbs that include more moistures such as mint, chives or basil, will be better if a food dehydrator or freezing are used. Getting a dehydrator is a good way of drying, since it is faster and easier way. It maintains the high quality of herbs due to the controlling of temperature and air touring. Herbs may be placed after rinsing, in a layer on the dehydrator trays. Times of drying are different, according to contents of moisture, leaves’ thickness, and quantities of drying per a time. Considering that herbs may be dried as soon as leaves become crisp and stems brittle.

Best Way to Store Dried Herbs

Store herbs after having dried, is important in order to maintain their freshness. There are many methods to store herbs, such as small plastic bags or jars. It must avoid light and heat. As soon as learning the ways of drying herbs, it will be considered as the first step towards being skillful cookers.