It's such a beautiful day! Come to the gardens to explore...take in all the beauty!  We have 20 acres of nursery and gardens, 3 ponds stocked with tropical fish, turtles, and frogs, a beautiful shade house full of beautiful plants, and rows and rows of succulents and roses. Come get inspired and let nature heal your soul!

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The Aromatic Garden

Jackie - Waterwise Botanicals • October 10, 2019

 

Have you ever taken a walk through the forest taking in the sights, when you realize that the scents are as powerful an impact at the visual?  As you hike the trails or walk the path, the piney scent that is crushed underfoot or the cedar you brushed against in a narrowing of the trail infuses the senses and makes a memory.  The brushy sages that keep their perfume a secret until you pinch a leaf or break a branch in passing only adds to the discovery of your visual journey. 

 

Trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, flowers all speak to us with beauty, while some speak with “scents”.  They actually wake our sleeping sensory emotions and in doing so, plant or solicit a memory.  Plants can have a scent that pushes us away, or lifts us up, takes us back, or compels us.  Essential oils can calm, revive, make you more alert, or clear your sinuses.  They have power in their fragrance, as do the plants they are derived from.  That is why your aromatic garden will be unique to you since fragrances affect your mood and can convey an array of emotions.  Scientifically, our olfactory receptors are directly connected to the limbic system, the most ancient and primitive part of our brain, the virtual seat of emotion.

Your aromatic garden will be your scratch and sniff place that brings you peace, joy and contentment.  It will be very personally pleasing with all the fragrances that charge your battery, calm your nerves, or solicit memories.

Planning this garden will be a journey of delight.  When you explore nurseries, forests, gardens, you will need to take notes of what pleases your senses.  You may need to do some investigation...take a picture, research its name and explore the internet for more information on where to purchase it for your garden.  You will also need to know how big it gets, what exposure it needs and how much water it like, including whether it is compatible in your climate.  It can be a rose, or rosemary…it can be cedar or bay leaves, lemony or sweet, savory, minty, or fruity.  The possibilities are endless. 

You can start by defining a space in your garden, or inter-mingling your aromatics with other plantings.  It’s all up to you.   Begin with intention … as you create your unique space, you may want to adjust your plan, perhaps leaving room for a seat or two, or adding a bird feeder or botanical signs for each plant selected.  It can lead to a lifetime adventure of discovery that feeds your soul and speaks to your heart.

I’ve listed a few plants that can get you started, but they are merely suggestions.  I hope this “scratch & sniff” experiment brings you joy and a gift you can share with others!

The Aromatic Garden Suggestion List

Lavender

Salvia clevelandii

Lemon verbena

Scented Geranium

Rosemary

Pine

Fragrant Roses

Pink Jasmine vine

White Sage

Lemon grass

Plectrantus amboinicus (Cuban Oregano)

Helichrysum italicum

Cedar

Jackie Jesch

Waterwise Botanicals

Tips & Hints

A mini green succulent with pink flowers, planted in a white coffee/tea cup/mug.
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A fun list of 12 compiled truths observed by Jackie Jesch of Waterwise Botanicals located in Bonsall, CA. We can all be a little more like succulents.
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Waterewise Botanicals shares their downloadable list of 37 plants to include in your garden if you want to attract butterflies.

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From the time I was a little girl, helping my mom plant sweet peas, to being in the nursery business for almost twenty years…I’ve loved gardening. Some of my best days were spent whiling away my time in the garden, visiting nurseries, browsing through endless garden books and magazines, and garden design ideas at Waterwise Botanicals plant nursery.

Working in this industry has taught me well, but what I love most is the creativity that goes along with it. Designing a beautiful landscape, or meeting such wonderful people who share their enthusiasm & ideas for gardening. I never tire of discovering new plants, or changing up the mood of my garden.

​I have a passion for photography and writing, so you will usually find me with my camera trying to capture a shot of a beautiful plant or design. My articles are written to inspire, encourage, and share some pearls of wisdom I’ve gathered through the years, as well as highlight other authors, plants and concepts that are trending in design. So, let’s take a journey together “IN THE GARDEN”.

- Jackie Jesch
Waterwise Botanicals
Letter from the Author
From the time I was a little girl, helping my mom plant sweet peas, to being in the nursery business for almost twenty years…I’ve loved gardening. Some of my best days were spent whiling away my time in the garden, visiting nurseries, browsing through endless garden books and magazines, and garden design ideas at Waterwise Botanicals plant nursery.

Working in this industry has taught me well, but what I love most is the creativity that goes along with it. Designing a beautiful landscape, or meeting such wonderful people who share their enthusiasm & ideas for gardening. I never tire of discovering new plants, or changing up the mood of my garden.

​I have a passion for photography and writing, so you will usually find me with my camera trying to capture a shot of a beautiful plant or design. My articles are written to inspire, encourage, and share some pearls of wisdom I’ve gathered through the years, as well as highlight other authors, plants and concepts that are trending in design. So, let’s take a journey together “IN THE GARDEN”.

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Join the Discussion - Leave a Comment
April 2, 2025
SUNFLOWERS MAKE ME HAPPY I am a bit of an impulse buyer when I see flowers, or chocolate. I don’t really like to go grocery shopping. I do make a list as things are needed. It’s kept on the kitchen counter. I take it to the store with me. I pull it out of my purse as I enter the store. I get the cart and follow the list…until I see Flowers. I tell myself to stick to the list and get what we need. Then, I come to a display…it can be fruit or veggies, flowers or chocolate. I lose it! It looks like so much more fun than Dishwasher Soap or Toilet Paper. My cart gets filled with goodies and necessities alike, but the GOODIES make me smile. Then, I will inevitably see flowers in someone else’s cart and I’m a goner. I love Sunflowers. There are so many varieties to enjoy. I just cannot help but pick up a bunch of cut ones at the flower mart or grocery store. Their “happy faces” bring joy, and the golden sun color makes me smile. I guess you could call them a mood enhancer for the kitchen counter, dining table, or even for your desk. I have a little garden spot in our yard where I sow seeds, as well as plant flowers. I just love colorful gardens. I can’t resist a packet of seeds on the counter or from a display stand at the hardware store. I must admit I am not good at gardening by seed, but I keep trying…AND I also get pots of Sunflowers to pop into sunny places in our garden. Sometimes I’m lucky and they thrive, putting on a grand show, but other times, I get them for a short stay. Maybe because they are unpredictable, I SO ENJOY them while they are present. I invite you to take home a SUNFLOWER to enjoy the next time you see one. Maybe, they will have chocolate kisses at the check-out counter too. Jackie Jesch Waterwise Botanicals
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