MinxterBLOOM

UVA scientists last April released results confirming that air pollution interferes with scent released by flowers. This data suggests one factor in the decline of bees and other pollinators.  On problem is that air pollution interferes with the movement of scent molecules in the atmosphere.  In other words, the fragrance of a rose cannot travel as far amid pollution as it would under less polluted conditions.  See this video at Science Daily.

"The scent molecules produced by flowers in a less polluted environment, such as in the 1800s, could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters; but in today's polluted environment downwind of major cites, they may travel only 200 to 300 meters," said Jose D. Fuentes, a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia and a co-author of the study. "This makes it increasingly difficult for pollinators to locate the flowers." (My emphasis!)

The photo on the article home page shows three darling nerdie scientists kneeling in front of daffodils.  Only about a third of daffodil varieties are scented.  OK. I will give them this.  But the first two flowers in the video are incredibly UNscented:  oakleaf hydrangea and the classic orange ditch lily.  The third flower is a single shrub rose, whose scent, like the daffies, is not likely.

Permit me this peeve:  I dislike the random pairing of a flower without scent as a visual with articles about scent.  For example, I could post a Gerbera daisy photo with this post -- which I have -- as an occasion of such a sin.

                                                             NO SCENT ever in such a flower.