Gardenias always remind me of corsages. My mother, for some inexplicable reason, wanted a Gardenia wrist corsage when I married-unfortunately, it was April and no Gardenias could be found. She settled for Orchids. Non wrist at that.
These are Tropical Gardenias (Tabernaemontana divericata). The fragrance is not as strong as Gardenia jasminoides, but similar. This particular one is about 10 feet tall and I have been slowly reclaiming it from the blob of plant material that separates me from my favorite neighbor. The blob is a professional term I learned while in design school at The University of Georgia. One of my professors is probably feeling a really bad vibe right about now.
My favorite neighbor also shared her big white Cattleya Orchid with me. Never one to struggle with convention, I installed it on a tomato cage hoping for an Orchid tower in the garden outside my Living Room window. I have been rewarded with three huge buds and am hoping for another corsage ready vase next week. Wrist band optional.
The Shrub Queen 
Gardenias do smell so good. I think our mothers’ generation used them quite a bit. I was searching for them for my mother-in-law’s 50th anniversary. I have two good bushes.
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I think our mother’s generation was a bit more forgiving of things not being perfect, like brown edges on the floral arrangements, the scent offset the edges. Or there was a secret, like lemon juice in the water that has been lost to time!
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Beautiful! I love gardenias for flowers and fragrance, but also for their beautiful fragrance. When I got married my florist refused my request for gardenias because they can turn brown so quickly, she didn’t want that responsibility.
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Thank you, These tropical ones don’t really brown, they wilt fairly quickly, though. I would not try them for a wedding except the buds, they last really well for some weird reason.
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Oh my, I’m a little jealous! Gardenias smell soooo good! 🙂
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Indeed.
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Another wonderful arrangement. The fragrance must be divine!
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Thank you, Peter.
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What beautiful blooms – it is interesting to read that they can be a generational thing…and I am not too sure about the practicalities of a wrist corsage… 😉
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Thank you, wrist corsages go with strapless evening gowns! I am not sure that is still done.
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It’s always interesting to read about different fashions and customs
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I speculate that your tropical gardenia would have made a better wrist corsage – the other gardenia discolors so readily when touched. Yours certainly makes a lovely arrangement.
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You are probably right, though the buds really hold up in a vase. Thanks.
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Fabulous, I struggle with indoor gardenias, it must be wonderful to grow them outside. I am envious of your cattleya too and looking forward to seeing it.
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I would not like to try indoor Gardenias, I admire your grit. The Cattelyas are about half open and spectacular.
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Very elegant – I love gardenias, the fragrance is swoon-worthy!
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Swooning occurs in my foyer! Thanks.
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🙂
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These are simply gorgeous!!
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Thank you.
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Gardenias (the common ones) are so unpredictable here. They can be very unhappy and eventually die in gardens where they get pampered, or be very happy in situations that they should not be happy in. One of the best gardenias that I can remember lived in a hole in the concrete between the curb and sidewalk.
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I haven’t tried a real Gardenia yet.Oddly, these are semi deciduous!
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Oh, that is odd, for something that seems like it would not know what winter is.
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The blooms are gorgeous and the globe shaped bowl in very attractive.
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Thank you, Christina. Simple pleasures.
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They look so exotic.
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