Mock Oranges and Russian Olives

source:  jeffreyelevine.com

The fragrant plants that say summer on the prairie are blooming. Mock oranges are much maligned by the Woody Landscape Plant Expert, Michael Dirr. Google Mock Orange and Michael Dirr to read his reviews. I like Mock Oranges. The are native to parts of the northwest. Any plant that can survive the cold weather and deer predation is worth growing.

In Montana, on dry rocky slopes the white fragrant shrubs cover the hillsides, looking a bit like snow. At the same time, the moister hillsides are covered in Juneberries creating the same white effect. But note Juneberries are not fragrant. At home in SD, the Juneberries are forming berries while the mock oranges are beginning to bloom.

source: Gary Fewless

Also perfuming the air the inconspicuous blooms of Russian Olives. In native form they are a dense twisty hardwood smallish tree and very large shrub. They are noted for their thorns. Those thorns can and do penetrate tires. This is way the trees shouldn't be planted around parking lots. Here it is planted as a windbreak tree but is is considered weedy. I can't speak to weedy as my old trees are slowly dying. With regular mowing the trees are not being replaced by seedlings. The trees provide nesting habitat for the birds and excellent fragrance for summer.

I also noted the grapes are blooming. Again a nice soapy fragrance.