Korean Spice Viburnum

I WROTE ABOUT PLANTS AND FLOWERS in my first book and acknowledged their contribution to my lifelong enjoyment of their rather impressive life cycles.

As I have learned through observation, the predictable sequence of flowering deepens my awe of what plants bring to their space on planet Earth.

The above photo is a close-up of the Korean Spice Viburnum that grows outside my front porch in Beulah. I planted it as a small shrub over fifteen years ago, mostly because of fond memories of my mother’s same variety, which she had next to the garage at my childhood home. I wanted that same scent and enjoyment it brought to me, fifty years later.

The shrub brings such an olfactory sensation when it is flowering in May. I’m not sure how it all comes to fruition, but I’ll take in the scent while sitting on my porch in the early evening as the clusters of flowers emit a spicy, sweet, and clove-like fragrance that is not easily matched anywhere in Nature.

Enjoy it as the flowers last for just a couple of weeks.

V. burkwoodii for those into botanic classification.