About 5 to 6 years ago, in an attempt to keep deer from jumping the backyard fence, I planted 9 new lilac bushes. I already had 2 very old bushes that barely bloom because they are in too much shade. Let’s just say I can never have enough lilacs.
I don’t think I could live in a climate where lilacs didn’t grow. Very few flowers can compete with their intoxicating smell. And in my opinion, they have a softness about them that rivals any peony.
I sometimes think these exquisite beauties are a reward for enduring such harsh, cold winters. And it often seems, the coldest, snowiest winters repay us with the most abundant display of flowers.
Since it is supposed to get down in the 30’s tonight, I made this bouquet to save a few of the blooms. With any luck, the cloud cover will linger through the night, hopefully avoiding any chance of frost. I’d so love to bring these beauties in the house. But I know, coming from such cold outside temps to a warm house would make them wilt overnight.
You may have noticed I haven’t been blogging much the last six months or visiting around. Partly because I have lost interest, and partly because other things in life have become more pressing. Feeling like I have little or nothing new to say, I will predominantly be using my blog as a way to record the gift that my garden is to me. Capturing the beauty of the garden and practicing photography, continues to give me great joy, but to save time, it will be mostly on Instagram.
Hoping everyone is enjoying spring as much as I am!
You lilacs are beautiful and, even though I can’t smell them, I can understand your affection for them. I live in one of those parts of the country where one can’t grow lilacs, or at least not well. There’s one at my local botanic garden but it never looks like much and its scent isn’t strong enough to catch unless you’ve right on top of it. Ceanothus, which I do grow, is called the “California lilac” but I don’t know why – if there’s a scent, it’s not one my nose can readily detect. Best wishes Cindy.
I can’t smell them either Kris. I so want to bring them inside, but I know the shock of the temp difference would do them in. It feels like a refrigerator outside, so they are holding up nicely, and at least I can still look at them. They have grown so tall, that even walking beside them, the blooms are way above my head. Usually by this time they fragrance the whole yard, but it’s not warm enough for that and they are blooming early. I have several varieties, so there will be more blooms to come, and these should last awhile as long as there is no frost. Usually they bloom at the same time as the Honeysuckle trees, and Wisteria. The combination perfumes the air, and makes it smell like heaven.
I’m sure you have a lot of other flowers that grow there that have a stunning fragrance equal to any lilac. Every area of the country has its gift of beautiful blooms and fragrant flowers, and California has no shortage of them.
Happy weekend!
Hi Cindy. How time flies! I can’t believe you have lilacs already! They are beautiful… lovely photos. Our spring is very cold and slow this year and lilacs still seem a long way off. Some years spring seems to be over in a blink, so I should enjoy it I suppose! Enjoy your special scented blooms. I am not on Instagram, so hope you will still post on your blog occasionally. 😉
We had a rather warm spring with a few cold dips and spells. We’re back in a cold spell right now, but true spring weather can’t be far away. It always seems like it won’t come, but then, overnight, it is here with a parade of flowers coming on.
I would urge you to get on Instagram. It’s so easy. I follow lots of old blogger friends from 10 years ago who no longer blog, and it is a fun way to keep up with them. Instagram is a lot like blogging, only 100 times quicker. Lots of gardeners to follow and anything that suits your fancy, with beautiful photos too. A great place for quick inspiration. If you set up an account, be sure to let me know and I will follow you. I still enjoy blogging, but don’t often have the time it takes, and there’s really nothing new to say under the sun. With Instagram, I can post every day ,or every couple days, or not at all. And you still make new friends all over the world just like in blogging. I love that I can view beautiful accounts and photos on my phone any time I have a few minutes or am waiting in line somewhere. There’s a reason it’s called instant.
I hope spring settles in for you soon Cathy. Waiting for it to come can be a real trial of patience.
Wow, look at this! So you’re not that far behind, Cindy, our lilacs have also been flowering for a while. I think no plant reminds me so much of my childhood as lilac. Love the scent too but hubby refuses to accept them in the house. 😉 Happy spring days to you!
So sorry Annette it has taken me so long to reply back. I’ve been busy in the garden moving a huge pile of new soil and building a small new patio. Needless to say, everything is growing rapidly, and the weeds even faster.
We’re still having cold nights, which makes it hard to put anything tender outside, but spring is coming on strong.
Hope you are well. I try to always see your posts, but sometimes I don’t sit down long enough to read anything. Glad you’re on Instagram so I can at least catch you there.
Cindy