Wild flowers

[ionelv]

I have lived mostly in urban areas save for some time before I turned 5 and some summers I spent with my grandparents as a teenager. My sense of smell is quite developed and I recall the smell of flowers (especially roses and lilacs) and perfumes from my childhood, but I would say my sense of taste left even stronger memories: grapes, walnuts, cherry plums (corcoduşe), pears, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, carob, chestnuts, mulberries, quince, oranges, bubble gum, etc.

When we lived in Bronte, I distinctly remember two aromas: one Amur maple and one basswood tree in flower. I have not encountered anything like it before. Unforgettable.

Since we moved to the country side, the smell of wild weed flowers hits me like a train every once in a while: while walking down the track between the trees and the mostly wild pasture, while walking by the wild grapes or the sumacs, or just tonight, walking nowhere near any recognizable wild flowers. The aromas are amazing and indelible. I wish all people could experience something like this at least three times in their lives.

Comments

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> My sense of smell is quite developed and I recall the smell of flowers <<

Mine too -- peonies, Easter lilies, lilacs, roses, fruit trees.

>> one basswood tree in flower. <<

Like honey, almost, so intense. :D

And here, the smell of corn tasseling, golden and buttery. Tomatoes and basil warmed by the sun. In fall, the leaves on the ground have such a spicy smell.

It's nice to talk with someone else who notices such thing.

Re: Yes ...

[ionelv]

Obviously, some smells are quite overpowering and others are very faint and subtle. The best for me are those that hit me without warning (strong or weak) and it takes me a while to find their source. I also enjoy (maybe a little too much) finding random fruit trees in public places (in flower to enjoy their aroma or in fruit so I can sample them, even crabapples). I recently experimented with making my own wine from wild grapes :) I think I will attempt making some ice wine from same wild grapes growing near my property. I have fond memories of helping my grandparents with grape picking, "helping" them make wine and especially eating grape must (which is wonderful and hard to find). I also have a weakness for nuts and grapes of all kinds.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Obviously, some smells are quite overpowering and others are very faint and subtle. <<

Yeah, some "scentless" flowers like sunflowers have a scent to me.

>> The best for me are those that hit me without warning (strong or weak) and it takes me a while to find their source. <<

I like tracking scents. I can smell barbecue from blocks away.

>> I also enjoy (maybe a little too much) finding random fruit trees in public places (in flower to enjoy their aroma or in fruit so I can sample them, even crabapples). <<

Agreed.

>> I recently experimented with making my own wine from wild grapes :) <<

Go you!

I've had sourdough bread made from grape yeast. Sometimes it has a distinct wine flavor.

>> I think I will attempt making some ice wine from same wild grapes growing near my property.<<

Good idea.

>> I have fond memories of helping my grandparents with grape picking, "helping" them make wine and especially eating grape must (which is wonderful and hard to find). I also have a weakness for nuts and grapes of all kinds.<<

Muscadine grapes are my favorite. Sometimes I find bottled juice from them which is amazing. It has this intense floral smell and flavor.

Re: Yes ...

[ionelv]

My favorite table grape is Black Muscat. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Muscat

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I like black and red grapes. White ones are okay. I may have had muscat before.