Gardenias for #sublimesunday
There are some beautiful Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) bushes in front of the salon where I get my nails done. The bushes are evergreen, so the leaves remain a lush, green color all year long, which makes them perfect for landscaping purposes. Two or three times each year, the bushes are covered in beautiful, snow-white flowers. It is always delightful to visit the salon during the times these pretty flowers are in bloom!
Gardenia flowers are very fragrant, having a very sweet, floral scent to them. That makes the essential oils of the plant quite popular in the perfume industry as well as incorporating into some incense blends. One must be careful, though, as the aroma is quite "heady" to most people, and a little bit of fragrance goes a long way. Too much can be overpowering.
In reading about gardenias, I learned that they have small 'fruits' on the bushes at certain times of year. However, I don't recall seeing any fruits. Perhaps I am visiting the bushes at the wrong time! The fruit contains a chemical called crocin, which is a carotenoid substance (the same stuff that makes carrots orange or yellow in color). Because of the crocin, the fruit is suitable for making dye which can be used in food as well as for dying cloth. The fruit also has fever-reducing properties and has been used for such in traditional Chinese medicine. [2]
There's also a gardenia bush growing beside my parents' house, which my mother planted many, many years ago. It is two or three feet taller than I am, and also has blooms a couple of times each year. I sometimes don't see the flowers on that bush, though, as it is on the one side of the house where I seldom walk.
These flowers smell so sweet, sometimes I just want to pick a handful, toss them on the bed, and roll around in them! 😁 But, I have yet to do that... 🤔
SOURCES
1 MissouriBotanicalGarden: Gardenia jasminoides
2 Wikipedia: Gardenia jasminoides
25-Oct-2020
Beautiful flowers!
The do smell divine. Lovely shots, @thekittygirl
Beautiful photographs.Beautiful Gardenias.
I did not know about the medicinal properties of the fruit of this flower. Thank you for sharing this information, it was very useful and educational.
Take care of yourself.
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Lovely Gardenia! The fragrance must be very nice too.
Perfume on the air is so distinguishable a gorgeous little tree my parents home had, the one I had was eaten up by termites after enjoying for only a couple of years.
Definitely a winner to plant in the garden @thekittygirl
Well, I guess keep your eyes on those things til you see some fruit one day, then you can do some experimenting. I don't recall ever seeing the fruits of these flowers, so thanks for teaching me something new teacher. 😁 !BEER
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Beautiful white coloring of the flowers. I love to look at them, but my sinus problems prevent me from growing flowers or smelling them. Thanks for the information on the Gardenias.