Lilac Envy
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Last week we visited my in-laws in NC, and found my mother-in-law’s beauty of a lilac specimen full of blossoms. One big happy lilac bush for sure. I want it. I want many. I have lilac envy.
If I lived close enough, her lilac would somehow mysteriously become bare of all fragrant blossoms in the night.
Mysteriously.
I’ve been pining for peonies and now I’m adding lilacs to the list. Lovely lilac lined plans are churning away. I’m looking into it. This is what I’ve found so far…
Lilacs like:
- well drained soil, with pH of 6.0-7.0
- full sun
- grows most favorable in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-7
For some reason I’ve always thought that lilacs were difficult to grow, but after some light reading it doesn’t seem so. It sounds like it takes a few years to get them established, but after that, they are hardy and flourish under the right conditions. So, now to find the spot, and prepare it for lilacs come fall. And maybe some peonies too.
I stumbled across this poem called “Stealing Lilacs” by Alice N. Persons. Thought you may enjoy it. I did.
Do you grow lilacs or another lovely flowering bush?
Hope you’re enjoying spring!
I have lilac envy too. I think they’re like candy to the deer, so I haven’t even thought of planting them. But they sure are gorgeous.
Those pics are beyond gorgeous… makes me long for the beauty of spring… we are nt quite there yet! 🙂
I can’t wait for the lilacs to bloom. I can almost smell their sweet, wonderful fragrance looking at your photos. Beautiful!
GORGEOUS. I can just smell them through my screen, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I think the problems with lilacs, at least in their Washington state incarnation, is that they are not very attractive plants unless they are in bloom. We have one sad little plant in out backyard which is glorious for three weeks of the year and kind of pathetic looking for the rest of the year. I do have to say, my old old house had them all the way around the yard and the smell out there in May was one of the best things my nose has ever come across.
I just cut down a lilac last fall…please don’t hate me. I never loved the flowers but they are so different from those you picture, much more of an open and not anywhere nearly as pretty specimen. That bush has been in the ground for 7-8 years, has yet to be as tall as the fence and due to the tendency, too often, for Colorado to have a late spring freeze; the odds of blooms are diminished. So it’s gone…something else will be taking it’s place.
I love viburnum and mock orange and am now researching a bush to replace the lilac…yes, something that will not only get as big as the fence but even bigger and hide the neighbors storage shed!
I love lilacs. Especially those huge ancient ones, blooming profusely. We had a large stand of them on the farm. And now we have 3 big ones on the corner of our lot. I’m hoping to take down a portion of fence and add a line of smaller sized bushes near my garden. Your photos are gorgeous!
Gorgeous pictures! Now I want them too!
Gorgeous photos! (may I ask what lens and settings you used?)
I have a lilac in the garden, but it will be a few weeks yet before it flowers.
Our lilacs are out of control. In fact, we cut them back and pull shooters every year where they try to spread. If I could, I’d dig up a few and send them to you, but I doubt they’d make it all the way to SC. 😉
I had a lilac bush in my yard. I was the only one in my neighborhood and everyone was so envious. When hurricane Floyd hit 10 years ago we lost so many trees and unfortunately my bush was lost too. I loved it.
Amy the second this post opened on my screen I could SMELL the lilacs!!!
Just GORGEOUS!!
I love lilacs! I wish we had some in our yard, too.
My favorite flower! Our driveway is lined with lilacs. Too bad it is still snowing in Utah. They aren’t close too blooming:( I can’t wait until they do!
Gorgeous photos — the color is amazing. Living in the extreme southwest corner of the US, sadly these will not grow here. We’re in zone 9, and even though we’re right on the coast, you just don’t find them here. We do have California Lilacs, though. Pretty, but not the same. Thanks for sharing this!
We had lilac bushes growing up. They were amazing and loved cutting them to bring in the house. I want to get some for our house but hate how long they take to grow!
I have lilac envy, too!!! Remember Miranda on SATC and the lilacs? *sigh* Everytime I see that episode, I want to move north.
Beautiful pictures, Amy!
I want lilac bushes, too! So pretty and smell so good!
Oh, now I have lilac envy. The only flowering plants we have are camillias, wisteria and azaleas. None of these need great care. I’m longing for a pinkish-purple hydrangea like the one that grew at the front door of our first home. Ah.
oh my goodness your photography is simply gorgeous!
I really need to learn what my new camera can do! I love hydrangas 🙂