If, as you stroll around the Village Center this September and October, you smell something wonderfully sweet and fruity,  you are likely to be near an Osmanthus fragrans, or Fragrant Tea Olive.   This large evergreen shrub appreciates some shelter here in the Piedmont; it will grow to 20 or 30 feet in the Coastal Plain, where it is hardier.  Someone described the scent of its tiny flowers as "like peaches being cooked."  The bloom time in fall can last two months.  Sporadic early spring blooms are not unusual.  If you look carefully near the gate of the Inn and between McIntyre's and the Granary, you may spot the orange-flowered cultivar, Osmanthus fragrans auranticus.  Our plants are young, but both have flower clusters.
In October, we can expect to smell the next Osmanthus species to bloom: Osmanthus x fortunei, or Fortune's Osmanthus.  This one has holly-like leaves with spine-tipped teeth.  We have a massive specimen in the border beyond the White Garden.  It, too, has very fragrant tiny white flowers.  If both species are blooming at the same time, see if you can smell the difference.  

The Fearrington Gardeners

The hellebore in front of the restaurant is Helleborus Foetidus, commonly known as bear’s foot hellebore.  These plants were moved as small seedlings four years ago.  Hellebores bloom in mid to late winter, are pest-free (including deer and rabbits), and often seed around.  This particular hellebore has a smell when its leaves are crushed and yet has slightly fragrant flowers.  The flowers last for weeks and the plants are evergreen year round.  Hellebores are favorites with Fearrington Gardeners.

-Greg

It’s always exciting to see flowering activity on trees and shrubs during our coldest months when everything else appears to be dormant. Several have stood out this week.  First, the pink-flowering trees that are bursting into bloom everywhere are Prunus mume, also known as Japanese flowering apricot.  Several are located in Camden Park. They are blooming right on time; they are greatly appreciated for their long bloom period which spans January and February.  Find one in an enclosed area or on a comparatively still day in order to enjoy the wonderful fragrance.  If freezing temperatures kill some of the tender new blooms, more buds will open later.  Although called flowering apricots they bear only tiny inedible fruits.  This tree was a favorite of one of our favorite plantsmen, J.C. Raulston.   

Also scented around the gardens this week were: Lonicera fragrantissima (Sweet breath of spring or Winter honeysuckle), a white-blooming intensely fragrant shrub honeysuckle;  various Mahonias (Oregon grape) in Camden Park, whose yellow sprays of flowers are sweetly fragrant if you are able to brave their prickly surrounding leaflets; very early bright yellow daffodils in front of the Inn.

- The Fearrington Gardeners

Have you noticed how heavily berried the hollies are this year?  We've been impressed with both the rich color and the large number of berries on all our varieties.  Pyracanthas are also full of fruit, but it's hard to tell whether this is an exceptional season for them since they are normally bent beneath the weight of their fruit by this time of year.  We're taking advantage of the bounty by using prunings in seasonal decorations and flower arrangements.

- The Fearrington Gardeners

If you notice a lovely fragrance out back in the White Garden area, it's not the Sweet Autumn Clematis, which is past its major bloom.  Keep on walking around back of the White Garden and beyond the long cut flower bed until you are at the border of informal large grasses and shrubs.  There are three very large Osmanthus in full fragrant bloom.  They are evergreen shrubs that look like a very well-mannered holly with nonspiny leaves.  Other species of Osmanthus will follow suit soon.  Give your nose a treat (but watch out for fire ants!  It's that time of year again).

The Fearrington Gardeners