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My Lilacs

21.05.08 | Ilona Erwin | 1 Comment

Lilacs, you either love them or despise them. Those who hold them in little regard usually complain about their dull leaves, lack of season interest, and short bloom while taking big space. Ah, but those that love them speak but one word with that glassy-eyed expression of infatuation: fragrance!

The fragrance is evocative of old gardens, grandmothers, home dooryards, simpler times and simpler values. When what was desired of a garden was a little bit of pleasure and respite from the duties of one’s day. The lavender panicles giving musky sweet aroma on the air, lavishly filling indoor vases with flowers that manage to be both opulent and demure were relished by generations of gardeners. Some of us still carry that torch.

from ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed’
By Walt Whitman

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-washed palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle -and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-coloured blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.

Since I moved to a country place, I have room to spare and one of my early activities included choosing a number of different lilacs for the garden. I have three whites, one is ‘Ellen Willmott‘, one’Mme. Lemoine‘, and an ‘Edith Cavell‘. The old fashioned syringa vulgaris was one of the few things that came with the original plantings here. An old bush that had lost its center, yet nevertheless a focal point of the front yard. It now shelters my aging adirondack bench. I sit there while resting between strenuous garden efforts, and it is there where a hummingbird taught me of God’s love and concern.

This year I took some pictures of my lilacs in bloom, though they are now finished for the year. I’d like to share a few of the photos with you.



the outer side of the old lilacs



‘Edith Cavell’ and ‘Andenken Ludwig Spaeth’, the newer lilacs, a single white and deep lavender. They are under trees, but face the western sun



a “blue” gray color of President Grevy
Technorati Tags: syringa vulgaris, grandma’s garden

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About Ilona Erwin

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. Thank you, in advance for your support! Privacy Policy

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Comments

  1. Annie in Austin says

    May 26, 2008 at 2:29 am

    I still carry that torch for the fragrant beauties, Ilona – it just doesn’t do me any good to love lilacs in Texas!

    Ludwig Spaeth used to bloom in my old IL garden – given its beauty and potential for longevity, I hope it still blooms there now. Yours looks lovely.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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Oh, hi there!

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

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