Perfect Perennials

This garden is rich with the
fragrance of lavender and
old-fashioned roses.

Walk down the path of a garden designed with fragrance in mind, and you'll think you're in paradise. In fact, you don't even have to open your eyes to take in the bounty; just follow your nose. Breathe in the clean herbal scents of Russian sage and rosemary, the sweet perfumes of roses, heliotrope, and lilacs, or the spice of dianthus. These fragrant perennials and flowering shrubs are sure to stir the memories of even the least sentimental garden visitor.

When it comes to cultivating your own fragrance garden, consider these elements:

Proximity. Locate your fragrance garden where you'll have easy access -- by a walkway, patio, deck, or entryway. Many plants with scented foliage, such as artemisia and scented geraniums, release their fragrances only when touched, making their location even more important. Plants in portable containers can be moved to wherever their fragrance will be enjoyed.

Timing. Remember to choose a variety of plants with staggered seasons of bloom. That way you'll be able to bask in floral perfume from early spring through late fall.

Elevation. To suffuse the garden with scent, include plants of varying heights: trees, vines, and shrubs, as well as herbaceous perennials, annuals, and bulbs. Wisteria, for example, provides a fragrant valance for a front porch.