Blog

Maymont has traded a bed of thorns for a breath of sweetly scented air. The former cactus garden, an area marked on a 1934 topographical map as “flowers,” was reimagined this winter to focus on plants with fragrance.  We have planted aromatic Victorian favorites such as Mock Orange (Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Dwarf Snowflake’), Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), Osmanthus (Osmanthus x fortunei) and Sweet-Breath-of-Spring (Lonicera fragrantissima). Native fragrant plants such as Bottlebrush shrub (Fothergilla gardenii), Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) and Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) are included too.  And soon, lilies and other perennial plants will be added. Let your nose lead the way this spring to our newly-themed specialty garden between the Bear Habitat and the Japanese Garden. You may find inspiration to add some scintillating scents to your own landscape!

-Peggy Singlemann, Director of Horticulture