Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'
20th July 2013
I grew up in a garden with a Philadelphus and that is enough reason. It wasn't 'Belle Etoile', it was one of the white ones.
My mother had planted it, and she would have chosen something well regarded of its type but she didn't remember the name. Somewhere in the
garage was a jam jar containing the original labels of the shrubs she had planted but it remained as elusive as the name. Like all pots
of secret treasure, it had been hidden very well.
They are lovers of sunny conditions so this garden isn't entirely suitable but I enjoy trying. 'Belle Etoile' is one of the most spectacular
in flower and strongly scented so it ticks all the right boxes for me, and I disregard the red blush in the centre.
I have a couple of others, one that I planted years ago and have forgotten the name is still charming every summer. I have the original
label somewhere but I can't quite put my hands on it at present. Some things persist.
28th June 2014