Night-scented stock. It's not the most attractive flower, but very highly scented, so yes, you definitely need it! :>

Plant it somewhere near a window... its flowers open at night and release an amazing powerful and very pleasant scent. Since it's a night bloomer, it's not very showy, as mentioned already, so mix it in with some showier flowers.

Oh my goodness. I hope I can buy them already planted in the spring.

The other day when we had a storm warning, I was really irritated, so I got out some seed catalogues and ordered seeds from McFayden and T&T. That doesn't include the seeds I've already received from Heritage Harvest Seeds, and Vesey's. I have stuff coming from Botanus too, but I can't remember, other than hostas, what I ordered. I've already got over 100 bulbs from Botanus that I planted last fall.

DH is soon going to think I've lost my marbles =:)

You have lost your marbles! But isn't it fun?

I've never seen matthiola sold as a bedding plant. Just get some seeds and sprinkle them where you want them to grow. You'll never forget the scent. :)

I don't have it either, guess something else to add to the list. Is it a perennial or bi-annual, self seeder? Colors? Has anyone seen the seed on the rack or just in catalogs? Can you collect seeds?

I know, I know, questions, questions, questions. C

It is an annual. I've only ever seen it in a pale-purple (lilac) colour. You should be able to find it at most seed-racks, probably called night-scented stocks, or evening-scented stocks (scientific name is Matiola bicornis). In Edmonton it tends to not self-seed (at least not for me). Only one year did I have a single volunteer plant regrow in an area where it had been planted the previous year. I believe it produces seeds, but they are killed off over winter. I have never tried collecting the seeds. Here's a link with a bit more cultural info:
http://www.arcadian-archives.com/matthiolabicornis.html