I have a love-hate relationship with geraniums.
Geraniums are unequivocally bright and cheerful. They’re easy to grow from seed, but cheap when they’re already blooming. They stand out beautifully on sunny days. They’re traditional. They’re the quintessential window box flower. They are so pretty. I love the red ones. My mother always had some geraniums every summer, now she lives in summer, so she has them often.
These are some of my mother’s current geraniums.
Aren’t they lovely?
You know what? They smell horrendous. I hate the smell of geraniums. Like really, alawt, the smell makes me gag. Icky, icky, icky. Worse than marigolds, not as awful as vomit in one’s nose.
Here I am, back home again, in Indiana, and I don’t know if I can actually live without some geraniums. It’s one of the worst first-world problems I’ve had in awhile.
While I contemplate my struggle, here’s a really good book for teachers and parents.
My ed psych professor gave me this book when I finished my student teaching. He said they were out of print, and he bought them up in old bookstores, so he could dole out copies to promising students.
I love this book, and I read it to my kids every year before they go back to school. It’s a tradition.
And like all old books, it smells fantastic.
joeyfullystated 
Tiger lily. I love those large, spotted, lovely blossoms because they are showy and different. I HATE THE WAY THEY SMELL. They, in fact, make me want to rip my nose completely off my face. Used to have them in my yard (previous owner planted them), but none in the new house. I will have to look at them in the grocery store bouquets from afar so as to keep my nose on my face. 🙂
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It’s cool you can relate.
I would never smell them, but I must remember to dead-head them bare-handed and then wash my hands. The oil lingers in gloves!
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I can totally relate. My mom has the same issue with geraniums…she just can’t stand the smell of them. I’m not sure I’d recognize a geranium, mostly because she never had them (and she’s the family gardener…I pretty much have no ability to keep plants alive).
You might try those disposable rubber gloves…you can buy them in bulk at the big box stores (or target or walmart, I’m sure). You only need to wear ONE to dead-head the plants, so you shouldn’t go through them too quickly. Then peel off the glove and BAM, no oil on the fingers, either!
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Ah, yes, I use those when I cook with fresh peppers! Clever, clever gal! Thanks!
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🙂
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This is so funny – I’m with you…and I feel the same way about freesias. The first time I stuck my nose into a bouquet I was so overwhelmed by the sickeningly sweet perfume I wanted to upchuck. 😀
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Oh yeah, freesia is strong, too!
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I have the same problem. I like them, but they are rather unattractive as parts of the flower die, and then the stock doesn’t break off easily until it’s really dead…and so I don’t know if I’ll get any this year…I just had one planter of them last year…oh men have no idea the issues we women face…seriously…
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No, they do not. The Mister refers to all growing things as “weeds,” but he did seem fond of blue plumbago one morning on vacation….course, we can’t grow that here…*rolls eyes*
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Nice tradition with the book. I like that.
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Thanks, Dan 🙂
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Geraniums have such bright, bold flower heads, but you’re right, they don’t smell very good.
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Thank you! And you know, some people like it! It’s in a buncha fragrances! :O
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The book smells better than the geraniums, I’m guessing. Can’t you plant them at the back of your garden where you can see them but rarely get near them?
I remember when I was pregnant–all three times–I could smell baby’s breath – the little white flower that goes so nicely with roses. They stunk, quite literally, like halitosis. Now (and as soon as I gave birth for that matter) I can put my nose right up to them and take a huge whiff, and nothing. Maybe that’s why they call them baby’s breath. 😛
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That is SO weird! I’ve never even heard anything like that, Linda!
Yeah, it’s not about smelling them on the wind, it’s about dead-heading them. But I will muddle through 😉
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I’ll buy you a gas mask. 😉
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Nothing smells better than an old book; besides a clean vagina but that’s for another time and you’ve got plenty of time until you get to V.
I wish I was a flower person (not the religious kind in the airports) but someone who could grow them and not send them to an early grave. I guess you can’t have a green thumb and a clean vagina. So sorry – it’s late and I’m a little punchy.
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Clean vaginas FTW!
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OMG, what a beautiful thread. You’re right about the smell.
Thanks for the read today, and best of luck with the challenge!
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Thank you! I’m enjoying A-Z 🙂
(and your posts as well)
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I have an old e-book. It doesn’t smell as good as old books do.
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Bet not!
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Here for the A-Z Challenge. What a hoot meeting new people and sampling blogs. Interesting thread, hate the smell of that awful flower, not going down the vagina road. Enjoy the rest of the challenge! Caryn @writeonsisters.com
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Thanks for stopping in, Caryn!
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How did I miss this post? lol
I love geraniums and pelargoniums. Yesterday I took photos of some actually. lol
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They are lovely 🙂
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