Because of late spring frosts and early budding during winter heat waves, we don't often get many blooms on the lilac bushes down in our little valley. But this year the show is spectacular. It might just be the best one I've seen during my twenty-one Aprils in Missouri. Everybody's lilacs look fantastic.
We had an unexpected hard freeze on Monday night, but most of the flowers on our bushes survived just fine. Even the scraggly old lilac that sits at the base of the hill by the sheep barn, marking the site of one of the many houses that were down here when this was a thriving sawmill community in the 1920's and 30's, is full of flowers this year. And of course the air outside smells amazing.
Fifteen years later, there is no moving that one nine-foot-tall—and at least that wide—bush which, despite its abusive beginnings, is much larger and healthier than its mother plant, no doubt due to the fact that for years it was flanked on three sides by compost bins. I still feel a pang of guilt, though, whenever I see that cluster of plastic pots, half buried in the ground and long broken apart by the now massive branches at the bush's base.
Beautiful and so fragrant! I love lilac.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
I grew up with lilacs hedging the properties of both of my childhood homes. Now that we're buying the ranch, I have plans to put in a similar hedge. Of course, there are always a million things to do, and that probably isn't too high on the list, but one day...
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, have you ever seen the yellow lilacs? (http://www.michiganbulb.com/product/Primrose_Lilac/Lilac?p=0837937&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=CNfmqeXDkcUCFfRr7Aoda3EAoA_ ) The lilacs from my childhood were always purple, but I've become obsessed with the other colors, especially the yellow.
Lilac still rings my memory bells; there was a huge bush just below my bedroom window while I grew into teenhood. I've never forgotten the scent as I drifted to sleep.
ReplyDeleteLilacs are on full bloom here too; their splendid sweet scent fills the air every morning to the point I feel dizzy, a lovely and happy sort of dizziness :) There are about 20 trees around the house!
ReplyDeleteI find myself lingering by the lilacs.
ReplyDeleteSo great to see your post in my feed!
You are so much farther ahead than I in terms of your spring blooms. I can't wait for lilacs. One of my favourite scents!
ReplyDeleteSometimes best laid plans in the garden get a little side tracked!
Lovely legacy. Now 100 years in the future, some nice farmgirl or boy will reap the bounty of your foresight. Wouldn't it be cool if we could know the histories of the plants we inherit? The planters, the foods their loved, the candles, furniture, quilts they made? Across the road from us, there is an old Christmas tree pine forest that has grown to tens of feet high and now home to owls that call to each other in the dead of night. So lovely. Thankfully, one of our neighbors knew that that forest's story and could share with us. Enjoy those lilacs, sweet farmgirl. :)
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