On June 12, I was walking in my neighborhood, and came across this.
Ah, the scent of privet. Years ago, I would blog about privet hedges at the end of each June. They bloom earlier and earlier, and aren't covered by bees the way they used to be.
But still, they bring back a memory of over 60 years ago.
I grew up in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, in a city housing
project. All the green spaces in the project were carefully fenced away
behind chain link fences. We children would get into trouble with the
maintenance men who cared for the project if we climbed the fences and
dared to play in the greenery. So, of course, we did it as often as
possible.
In June, the privet would bloom.
It's a scent I love to this day.
The boys would catch the bees the bushes attracted in glass jars. That's not something we
girls got into. Instead, we would look for ladybugs to catch.
The heady scent from a week ago brought me back over 60 years in a matter of seconds. I
was a little girl once again, climbing chain link fences while we
looked out for the project maintenance men, so my playmates and I could
have a few minutes of interaction with nature.
Scent and memory. A living time machine.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
sweet memories.
ReplyDeleteThey say scent memories are a,ONG the strongest
ReplyDeleteIt must smell lovely. We had a privet hedge around our garden when I was small. Unfortunately my mother always pruned it into a square shape, so I don't remember ever seeing flowers on it.
ReplyDeleteI love it when something takes you back decades. You made me smile.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Hugs. ♥
It's incredible how scents can pick a little place in our brain to stick around forever. The neighbor kids used to all meet up at a tiny hazelnut orchard to play in. Who owned it, I have no idea - we didn't even consider that.
ReplyDeleteHow sad it is when plants are protected more than children. I'm glad you broke the rules!
ReplyDeleteI had friends that would catch bugs in jars but that was never my thing. I love flowers on bushes that make it smell good when you walk by.
ReplyDelete...many people trim privet so heavily that the plants never flower!
ReplyDeleteI love my privet hedges, too.
ReplyDeletePris cilla King
It's amazing how easily scent will bring back a memory. Sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteThere are two invasive species here that I had the most fun playing with as a child. Chinaberry trees and Mimosas. Privet does have a lovely smell. I work trying to keep it at bay. It is interesting how it's limbs wrap around each other and you find yourself cutting several limbs to remove one limb. Privet grows to 20 feet or more here in Georgia.
ReplyDeletePrivet does have a wonderful - and memorable - scent.
ReplyDeleteDelicate little blooms! I don't know that I've seen one of these bushes before. I love how your memories of the scent reminds you of your childhood. I have similar experience with miniature roses, not the smell but how pretty they are. The junior high I went to had a several of bushes end to end that created a wall almost that bloomed gorgeously by the school was ending. We would pick them to only get scolded by the principle. lol Anytime I see miniature roses that's what comes to mind. :)
ReplyDelete