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A couple of evenings ago, I was out putting the car back on the driveway when I was caught by a very potent fragrance. I scanned my memory... thinking of what would be in bloom now and what would smell like this, but could not come up with anything. Later on I Googled and saw "Linden tree"!!!
Linden tree??? What?? We've had a young Linden on our parkway for about 8 years. I had never noticed a scent. We have many in our area, it's what most people put in when the beloved Ashes and Elms fall to disease or insect infiltration. I do not recall smelling this fragrance before, or if I had, I did not attribute it to the tree.
The next morning I went out and sure enough, the tree was full of blossoms. They're not overly obvious. I had seen the blossoms before, hidden under drooping leaves. I just didn't realize they were fragrance bombs! I picked some off. Oh yeah... that was it. That was the scent that was wafting through my sultry evening.
I know there are plenty of trees with scented blossoms... but I had not realized the Linden was one of them. Live and learn.
Fun discovery! And I've never even heard of a Linden Tree... so you are way ahead of me! :)
Posted by: blue girl | June 20, 2012 at 08:20 PM
How can you have Bad German Brain and not recognise the smell of Linden??
The flowers fall into your beer stein if you're not careful.
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | June 21, 2012 at 05:20 AM
Bad insects, Bad!
There's been a beautiful smell around here, lately.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | June 21, 2012 at 06:44 AM
How can you have Bad German Brain and not recognise the smell of Linden??
Because it's an American Linden??
There's been a beautiful smell around here, lately.
Look for the Linden!!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 21, 2012 at 07:26 AM
I certainly recognize the blossoms. I knew they were there... by the droves, but I guess I never had my snoot up to one to realize how heavenly they were. I just assumed they were like many other trees... tree-scented.
Also, when I think of Lindens (aka basswood), I think of the wood... and that custom picture frames are often made out of them.
I'll make a note to not drink my beer under the tree.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 21, 2012 at 07:34 AM
I got a pic of a great blue heron in flight yesterday. (Also some of the same bird on a log in the lake, but he/she/it/bird didn't let me get close enough to get a sharp pic.)
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | June 21, 2012 at 08:13 AM
This is basically the plot of the Numa Numa song.
Posted by: Mandos | June 21, 2012 at 08:28 AM
Hmm, somehow I had also managed to live life without being aware of the Numa Numa song, but now I'll have it stuck in my head all day... I prefer the Linden fragrance.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 21, 2012 at 09:03 AM
LOL at Mandos.
Posted by: Brando | June 21, 2012 at 09:50 AM
I wasn't kidding either. It quite literally is the point of "Dragostea din tei" (the Numa Numa song's real title, "Love under the Linden Tree").
Posted by: Mandos | June 21, 2012 at 02:10 PM
another reason to love the summer!!
Posted by: Kathleen | June 22, 2012 at 09:28 AM
(I hope that comment was sufficiently on topic to your post )
;)
Posted by: Kathleen | June 22, 2012 at 09:29 AM
Kathleen- you could take a crap in the comment section and I'd still be happy you came to visit!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 22, 2012 at 09:31 AM
NO POOP FOR YOU!
/ Poop Nazi
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | June 22, 2012 at 02:27 PM
Kathleen- you could take a crap in the comment section and I'd still be happy you came to visit!
Some people would view that as a challenge.
Posted by: zombie rotten mcdonald | June 22, 2012 at 03:27 PM
I think the challenge would be not to crap in a comment section.
Posted by: Brando | June 22, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Linden Boulevard represent representsent.
Posted by: Substance McGravitas | June 23, 2012 at 01:20 AM
Nice!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 23, 2012 at 06:41 AM
Just be glad it wasn't another sort of tree.
Of course, ginkgos stink to high heaven but the seeds are edible.
Posted by: Big Bad Bald Bastard | June 25, 2012 at 02:43 PM
We had what we called a "Puke Berry tree" where I went to college... I don't recall if it was a ginko. A neighbor has a ginko, but it's young enough, it doesn't stink yet.
We have a zillion ornamental pear trees around here! I have never noticed the batter batter aroma! I will pay attention next spring!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 25, 2012 at 02:50 PM
I just wanna say that in the Hofgarten in Duesseldorf this afternoon, the scent of the linden trees was almost palpable.
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | June 25, 2012 at 03:19 PM
Hard to imagine you could smell them over the overwhelming aroma of BEER!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 25, 2012 at 03:49 PM
Duesseldorf does not have the Bavarian obsession with filling every park with beergardens.
There has been beer in the last few days.
Here is advertising for one of the Duesseldorf breweries / brewpubs:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4LY5VQefHnw/SIVC9_jAyAI/AAAAAAAAGIU/89-WhGm90CA/s1600/F%C3%BCchschen-abschleppen.jpg
Posted by: herr doktor bimler | June 25, 2012 at 04:03 PM
Hmmm, I'm not sure I want to think of nipple spikes when thinking of a cold brew.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 25, 2012 at 04:06 PM
Don't linden trees have really sticky, drippy sap? I remember there was a tree on the way to the West Oakland BART station that would drip all over the sidewalk. It was water soluble, but smelly and kinda gross. It was the organic equivalent of cinema floor crud.
Posted by: Chuckles | June 25, 2012 at 09:40 PM
Hmm, I am not aware of sticky, drippy sap, but then my Linden is on the parkway and any of that sap would be in the grass. Maybe I'll notice it when it gets larger than its grassy place mat.
LOL @ organic equivalent of the cinema floor crud.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 26, 2012 at 01:15 PM