What would Jane Austen Grow?

“Love is in the air, in every sight and every sound.” If you are a child of the 70s/80s (and I am), that will sound familiar. But what I want to know is what about smell? Isn’t love in the air with every fragrant plant? If it isn’t love, I know for sure that fragrance in flowers still wields power, the power to evoke memory, relaxation and mood. When I smell the honeysuckle vine in my back yard, I am transported. This evening when my husband and I walked the 5 dogs we were responsible for today, it was a joy to pass by my dad’s Hamamelis and catch the scent on the breeze. Hamamelis, or Witch hazel blooms now with frilly, understated, fragrant flowers. I knew that it was fragrant so I went back to sniff the flowers after I had passed it. My husband, who I thought had a weaker sense of smell, noticed it long before he got to the plant. He marvelled at the strength of the aroma. How fantastic to have such heavenly fragrance in the dead of winter. Granted, we have had a lovely stretch of springlike sun and warmth. And fragrant flowers smell much better in a warmer, drier weather pattern. I cannot explain why fragrant violets exhibit no fragrance on bitterly cold, rainy days but are aromatic within 6 feet on dry, sunny days, but it is true (in my experience). And it was true tonight as my lover and I walked and smelled the Hamamelis and the Sarcococca, too. What a delight! And I have fragrant, yellow primroses to plant this weekend. Also, pea seed and nasturtiums to start. I think this would be a great time to prune my roses, if I actually have the time. I am planning to redo my rose bed, so I’m not as motivated to do that.
Okay, Valentine’s day is Monday. I am a serious logical thinker married to a true romantic. (I do not believe Austen was a romantic at all.) So what do I want on Monday? I’m wanting a juicy steak, some nice red wine and a fabulous selection of chocolates. Yum, yum,yum!