As I walked across the Bridge of Flowers yesterday I was suddenly aware of a sweet fragrance. Looking around and sniffing first in one direction and then another I realized the fragrance was coming from this Viburnam carlesii, just beginning to bloom.

This shrub is also called Koreanspice viburnam, and the fragrance certainly certainly is spicily sweet. It is not a surprise this is a member of the honeysuckle family. It is not fussy about soil, but I can tell you that the Bridge volunteers keep all the plants well fertilized with compost, and occasionally organic amendments if they are needed. They like full sun but can tolerate some shade. Happily in this dry spring the Bridge can borrow water from the river to supply the irrigation system.

The viburnam has pink buds but the blossoms open to white. A very different palette is shown in this large show of tulips.

When the sun is low in the west it shines on the hills in our viewshed.  You can just see the square green field in the midst of the woodlands. All these years later that field, Cutter’s Field, is kept mowed and free of trees though it has been many decades since Mr. Cutter would take off and land his little plane there. Heath has always been progressive in many areas.

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