The Orange Jessamine. We discovered it so many years ago I don’t actually remember where we were. I know that we were somewhere, and I said ‘oh my we need that in our garden!’ Then at some point we did just that. The smell of the Jessamine fills me with pure bliss. It is exotic, erotic, intoxicating, calming, all at once. The sweet orange scent just oozes from those tiny little flowers. Small, narrow little petals. If these flowers were human they would be that inconspicuous person that no one looks twice at. Until they open their mouth. These flowers don’t stand out in beauty, they stand out in scent. Their perfume appears with their buds. Then the flowers Bloom and you are rendered breathless with their intoxication. In the evening and in the early hours of the morning oh my goodness the air sings a sweet sonata with those citrus notes.
We knew in our new garden that it would be filled with Jessamine, and it is. The foliage is thick, dark green and so full and fresh. The flowers beautifully fill the space you didn’t think was there, until the tiny white buds appear and suddenly you see. How you are thankful those buds found their way out through the leaves.
There is a corner of our garden, near the pizza oven, next to the steps up to the deck where we have it planted. It fills this large space and it was growing beautifully so when my princess passed over it was the obvious place to rest her beautiful body. Since that day the bush has doubled in size. It is so healthy, shiny, dense and filled with the most delightful flowers. I would run my fingers through the foliage and smile with my memories.
It was on one of our last nights in our house, when I sat outside on the edge of the deck, breathing in this stunning aroma. I suddenly felt sad that I would be leaving this space. Leaving this moment. I felt sad too that our children would be leaving this sanctuary that is their playground. My husband came out and I asked if he thought we would be able to find Orange Jessamine in the Philippines. He said ‘I am sure it will be there’.
On our first day in Manila we went to pick up the keys to our condo and as we waited we walked around the garden.
And there she was.
