The first of the sweet peas came up this week. The soft petals and gentle scent fill me with a sense of nostalgia.
My friend Kelly got me hooked on sweet peas (the flowering vine variety) a few years ago after a chat on our blogs. Up until then, I had grown the vegetable sweet peas, but not the flowering vine. I didn’t know what I was missing?
I planted the seeds late that first year, with a so-so crop. The seeds need to go into the ground early. The following year they came up on their own, and I’ve had a beautiful, self-seeded crop ever since.
The vines grow close to the sidewalk on both sides, ensuring a sweetly scented stroll past my house.
I enjoy making small bouquets, mixing in some lush fern cuttings, and whatever else is in bloom at the time. I save empty jars throughout the year so that I have plenty to give away.
It will be a few more weeks before they take off, but we planted several stakes over the weekend so they can happily climb skyward.
I can’t wait.
Gardening Nirvana 
Awww, thanks for the mention lovely. I’m always blown away by how they take over your front sidewalk. I would guess your house must stand out on the block 😀 Dreamy colours and perfume wafting through the air. It’s exciting when I find a perfume, air freshener or bath product labeled ‘Sweet Pea’, but I’ve yet to find one that actually smells like sweetpea’s. No one gets it right like mother nature. They’re just that special. xK
LikeLike
Yes! My favorite flower. Beautiful.
LikeLike
I bet your neighbours all slow down when they walk past your house Alys! They are lovely flowers!
LikeLike
Sweetpeas are one of my favourites.
LikeLike
We do like these. We have some everlasting ones. Do you?
LikeLike
Beautiful! I imagine those little jars are gratefully received.
We have seeds germinating in the greenhouse at the moment but they used to grow wild in our garden in France, covering the hillside in pink and purple.
LikeLike
A wonderful scent and such pretty colours too, especially the less common white and bluish ones. Very envious! I can’t grow them here.
LikeLike
I’m going to echo others. Wonderful how those sweet peas line the sidewalk. And I would so love to be your neighbor.
LikeLike
Lovely flowers… California poppies are always so vibrant and sweet peas look lovely both in the garden and as cut flowers.
LikeLike
I love them too! They grow up the fence of a house a street over from me, and I always stop to smell them. Somehow I never get the seeds in on time (Apparently St Patrick’s Day is the day for us), so I have to enjoy other people’s.
LikeLike
I love sweet peas.
LikeLike
They’re pretty special.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore sweet peas, a scent like no other!
LikeLike
I love sweet peas. My grandmother always had them in Sonoma and our 5 years in Lompoc was one of my favorite assignments. Sweet peas everywhere. Wild of course but also part of the Lompoc flower fields.
LikeLike
Do the neighbors ever complain that you have set the bar too high? I love them both. I didn’t know you planted them in pea gravel.!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someday, I hope to tour your garden in person! Even still the photos are great! and I love Marlene’s comment!
LikeLike
You must come for a visit during spring before our crazy heat and hazy skies descend. I would love that.
LikeLike