Philadelphus

Books about shrubs for the sensible gardener always mention a Philadelphus bush. Thoughtful gardeners always include at least one Philadelphus in their shrubberies. I've found one - in the original plantings by the house.

I learnt early on how to cut back this shrub at completely the wrong time of the year (so it didn't flower the following spring). I also used to miss it flowering - before I became semi-retired my late spring weeks were full of long hours spent at work, not in the garden.

Fragrant Philadelphus

This year I've noticed for the first time the beautiful fragrance of this flowering shrub. This made me think it could be a Philadelphus, so I took a close-up photograph of the flowers and checked with my reference book.

Yes, it certainly is one. When the garden was originally planted (a little over twenty years ago) one Philadelphus would have been compulsory, along with one Ceanothus, one Camellia, one Weigela, one Deutzia, and one Photinia - these were the backbone plants of the New Zealand country garden shrubbery in the eighties.

I'm glad I've got this finally sorted! I can hold my head high again in the world of shrub-owners.