I was down on hands and knees in olfactory ecstasy, to sniff my lonesome but persistent hyacinth’s sweet bouquet. Each February it appears in my little orchard’s undergrowth to remind me that spring is on the way. (MABurgess)
I was out on a trail and caught a whiff of what seemed like Avon perfume ahead. Surprised to find that it was blooming mistletoe in the palo verde tree!
You know spring is springing when a waft of sweet scent catches you unaware. What a great way to SAVOR THE SOUTHWEST! Tia Marta here to share some olfactory sensations and some ideas for carrying them to your breakfast table or teatime in an aromatic cup.
Mescalbean is a favorite ornamental from the Chihuahuan Desert planted in my Southern Arizona garden. Last night, walking from the driveway I was hit by the scent of grape Kool-aid. Finally traced it to the nocturnally-active flowers of this beautiful “Texas mountain laurel.”
I first met lemongrass on an adventurous trip in central Sonora. As we walked by a kitchen garden in the lovely Rio Sonora town of Banamichi, an elderly gardener hailed us, inviting us in for a cup of the most refreshing tea–té de limón. Inspired by her, I’ve been growing it in my own kitchen garden ever since. I love to snip it to steep and serve as a quick pick-me-up tea on a cool day. With a few sprigs bundled and cooked in a pot of whole chicken soup, it makes the best lemon-chicken you ever tasted! Lemongrass is the gift that keeps on giving; it multiplies, and plants can be gladly shared.
My lemongrass made it through the winter freezes and is rich with concentrated lemon essence.
Te de limon has a blast of lemon flavor and is full of nutrition–no need to even add sweet. It is packed with vitamins A, C, and B complex, plus calcium, magnesium, potassium and other important trace minerals.
Scratch the rind of a lemon–especially a Meyer–and your sniff sense will soar into heaven. Add a wedge of lemon rind or tangerine rind to hot tea. Or harvest a couple of young leaves for a simply fine herbal tea!
Steep 3-5 fresh young leaves of a lemon tree, tangerine or lime tree for a gentle no-caffein tea. Its aroma is a soothing gift….
It was Magdalena Mahieux, at her family’s farm west of Hermosillo, who introduced me to té de oja. For breakfast she instructed me how to go harvest my own fresh leaves for morning tea from their lime tree. Come to find out it is not only refreshing, it is a traditional medicine for calming nervousness and insomnia when made in concentration.
Flowers of our native Goodding’s verbena are sending out their sweetness into the desert air. Soon they will form round mounds of lavender in arroyos and along the highway.
Harvest the fragrant flower stalks of Goodding’s verbena for a calming tea. It can a soothing “slow-down” for active children or adults!
Goodding’s verbena is a delightful addition to your garden–and to your olfactory enjoyment. It is a native (not related at all to lemon verbena) that will re-seed itself to return year after year with its glorious long-lasting lavender color and sweet scent.
Happy sniffing into spring as you savor the Southwest with all your senses!
Tia Marta’ artwork and heirloom foods can be found at www.flordemayoarts.com. For native desert plants go to Desert Survivors Nursery , www.desertsurvivors.org.
Savor the Southwest: 
Your post is an excellent guide to having a fine day, adding tea. I’m off to find a lemon we harvested yesterday. Ford, in Downtown Tucson
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Texas mountain laurel got my attention more than the tea herbs. I have not grown it yet. I tried years ago, but things did not go as planned.
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Tia Marta is off on a exotic adventure so I’ll reply. When I planted my Texas Mt. Laurel many years ago, it took forever to get going. Finally we had a talk. I told it that it was planted in a prime real estate position and either it would grow or be replaced. It TOOK OFF. Today it is huge and blooms reliably here in Tucson during the first two weeks of March. I have seen other sephoras in bloom in town already but mine is on a reliable schedule. Sometimes the Tombstone rose blooms at the same time and the back garden is glorious.
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When I got the seed, I was warned that Texas mountain laurel takes a while to mature. I do not care. I sort of think it would like one of the warmer spots up above the forest. It can take its time out there, even if it never blooms. It has been such a pleasure to study it even without ever meeting it.
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Thank you for reminding me to stop and savor the smells of spring!
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