Sunday, I held an adorable listing open. It's a Georgetown townhouse with a pretty garden and parking for two (count 'em, two) parking spaces.
The first people who walked in looked a little sour dour, and I heard one of them say, "Ick! Cats!".
Ok, there are kids, but no cats. No pets of any kind, and the kids don't smell like cats.
Then I did a little sniff, sniff thing and sure enough. There was a whiff of something that smelled like that little kitty aphrodisiac that male cats use to attract the ladies. Well, not human ladies. We are repelled by this particular scent. But lady cats seem to love the stuff!
Then I looked out the front door and realized. It's the boxwood hedge in the front yard! It's totally beautiful and totally stinky shrub!
And I was about to plant a couple in my front garden!
I had no idea they stunk like that!! That's a smell you just cannot get rid of! Yuck. KM
Goes to show! When the Bradford Pears are in bloom here, it smells like a dishrag that you left in the sink wet.....know what I mean?
But they look beautiful!
Saw your other post about vacation in Paris! Luck you! When I went it was about 20 degrees and the wind at the top of the Eifel Tower was about 25 mph! Can you say gosh darn cold!!!!!
Have a great time, forget about us working back here and have a great time!
LOL, didn't know about boxwood smelling bad. Guess I won't be planting that either. Not that I was planning on planting anything, but that is beside the point! Thanks for the tip.
Also new to me. It is the first time I ever heard of boxwood. Not to mention its smell. Actually, I am pretty ignorant about woods. :-)
lol ... interesting !! I have 4 of them under my bay window and never came across that smell !
Are you SURE it wasnt kitty and his buddies marking the whole shrub !?!!?!
lol
Cheers !
Sheldon :o)
LOL, Pat. Yep, it is a pretty stink bush even though it looks nice. They are also poisonous to animals I believe. But who would want to eat that? I have run across some other plants that are a bit odiferous.
Jeff
I once lived in a rental and every time I walked in I swore I smelled something something. We didn't have cats then. I couldn't figure it out, and no there were no bushes like that. Finally one day I saw a big ol' male cat strolling over from across the street and "fertilizing" the shrubs!!! ~Rita
Hi Pat,
I didn't know they smelled like that. Are you sure it wasn't the kids? I know boys in particular can be pretty smelly. LOL
-Lisa
Pat there might be different kinds, I have 6 and no smell. I was also told the deer would not eat them and that's not true, 4 of them was so badly damaged that I am hoping they will survive.
Hi Pat!
Huh! I would never have guessed this one! They stink? I will have to take a whiff next time I am around one!
Hi Pat, I have two huge boxwoods and the only time I noticed an odor was when they got hit by a hard freeze one year when the tender new growth shoots got burned. Stunk for weeks....
Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN
Pat, I didn't know about the Boxwood but I have the Bradford pear trees and the smell is awful. How can that be from such a beautiful tree?
Who knew! Thanks for letting me know! We are covered in boxwoods in N.C.
Shelton
I didn't know cats were fond of boxwood. I'm going to perform a "sniff test" the next time I see some. This would discourage me from planting as well.
Pat -- I didn't know that box woods smelled ---- maybe the neighborhood cats got into the box woods.
Pat - I don't understand. Boxwoods have a wonderful, distinctive aroma. That's why the Brits use it for hedgrerows and those giant garden mazes. We were at a plant nursery this afternoon and were very pleased to inhale the boxwood bushes.
I have a cat and in no way does that plant smell anything like her.
That is news to me. I used to have them in my old house, but far away from the house that I never noticed.
I too am surprised boxwood was so stinky - you don't need that in your yard, Patricia. It looks so nice - hard to believe it is stinky...
Patricia,
I discovered that phenomenon in Williamsburg, Virginia...the boxwood capital of the world...!!! Thanks, Fran
Is there a place for one of those smelly plug-in air fresheners ?!
Pat - Really? I don't have a cat, but I do have these plants. And, yes - one day recently I noticed a kitty litter box smell OUTSIDE of my house. I thought it was odd. So, now I know.
Hey Pat. Uh oh, the smell of cats with no cats - never knew these hedges put off a kitty smell. Cat smells are a big buyer turn off, immediately.