For unknown reasons, my sense of smell has faintly returned though it seems that I am mostly able to smell foul odors. Repeated attempts to detect paperbush’s (Edgeworthia chrysantha) sweet fragrance have been unsuccessful.

While touring the garden with family members a few weeks ago, I pointed out the paperbush’s flowers to my son’s curious father-in-law. He remarked on the fragrance, and of course, I had to send him and my sons off with well rooted stems that were potted in autumn.

If I could smell any sweet fragrance, the daphnes would be the best bet. Of a handful, only a few have survived, and ‘Carol Mackie’ (above and below) is the best. But nothing, no scent at all.

The tall Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii, below) along the forest’s edge is beginning to flower. If I move very close, I recognize a faint scent, though this could be wishful smelling.

I see that the shaded viburnum has a large dead branch. I don’t regularly monitor shrubs in the garden’s border, so this could have been dead for years. I’ll remove it later if I think about it again at a time when it’s not drizzling rain, though once trees leaf out fully I might never think about it again.

I’m reminded that the Maresi  doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Maresii’  below) is suckering a little too closely to the stream. With support from the neighboring serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) branches extend far taller than its mature height, and even in this shade it has spread considerably. It can spread all it wants into the forest, but I’ll need to limit its growth towards the stream and pond.

I do like the few branches that arch and flower over the pond, though in the shade there’s little or no autumn foliage color. The flowers of this viburnum are not fragrant, but what do I care? I couldn’t smell them anyway.