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Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thursday, 6 August '09: Jasmine: the first scent of spring

What smell heralds spring in my experience? Undoubtedly, it is the sweet almost cloying scent of the jasmine. Those of us living in Guateng were shocked out of our complacency this year as we consistently experienced the coldest weather we have had for some years. Early mornings the lows hovered around zero; the days, sunny and clear, only reached 15 or 16 degrees. So I was overjoyed to see the first pinkish-white blossoms on the fence around the bowling club in William Drive. The blossoms from this little twig fill my kitchen with powerful perfume. And I know spring can't be far off.

12 comments:

Vicki Lane said...

Beautiful! I can imagine the smell. And as you watch for harbingers of Spring, I am watching pumpkins and corn ripen and photographing a early turning leaf.

I love this world of ours!

Avril said...

Have also taken a photo of my first jasmine flower which started opening!!! My creeper is full of buds - can't wait for that heady perfume! I too picked that first flower for a spot in the house!! Spring is on it's way!! Yay!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I have seen some peach trees in bloom this side. It is wonderful to see these first signs of spring. Winter is a miserable time for me.

Janet said...

Oh goody! Strange ... my jasmine hasn't started yet and its normally quite early. Maybe when I get home from Assegai I will be welcomed back with the sweet smell!

SmilingSally said...

It is an intense smell; I love it.

S said...

Jasmines are beautiful flowers~! I really hope this winter ends now because not many interesting things happen during this gloomy period :o)

Jeannette StG said...

Eleanor,
I love the fragrance of Jasmine, Jasmine tea, Jasmine as a person's name - cm't get enough of jasmine!!
Your photo on the right (shopping for amber in Riga) is very intriguing - that's the kind of shopping I like to do!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh, I love the smell of jasmine!

Here it is harvest time, and there is almost a hint of autumn in the air. The fields are golden in places and there are lovely clouds scudding through the sky.

Ms.Daisy said...

Hi Eleanor,
It is the deep dog days of summer here in New Jersey...hot, hot and humid. Today was one of the hottest this year at 94!
My Crepe Myrtle is just starting to bloom and has beautiful magenta flowers!
I love that rose trellis quilt...I am just learning to quilt.
~Jean

Carrie said...

These are such beautifl blooms...i enjoy seeing tropical plants. i just returned from a week at my sister's house in Florida, where I enjoyed the lovely flora there. I am posting this week about my visit.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

This has to be one of my favourite smells in a garden. I always make sure I plant some in a new one.

Fifi Flowers said...

J'adore pink jasmine... such a DIVINE smell!