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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
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Tuesday - June 07, 2011

From: Naples, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Summer fragrance from Naples FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Ever since I was a little girl growing up in Naples, Florida, there has been something that blooms in the summer. I smell this every day into the evening and it isn't a flowery fragrance, it was a little more spicey smelling and very prominent. Do you know what this could be?

ANSWER:

Since no one on the Mr. Smarty Plants Team has gardened in Florida, and since what smells good to one nose might smell totally different to someone else, we suggest you ask gardeners in your area what that smell is? Plant identification is difficult enough (and often impossible) with physical descriptions of the plant in question, but a smell? Sorry, wish we could help you.

 

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