These blossoms are still in the process of opening and their smell is wonderful. I look forward every Spring to their blossoms and smells. Kindly, click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Yesterday, I had opened the garage door getting ready to bring out the lawn mower when this wonderful smell wafted its way into the garage. It became so strong I looked out to see our Lilac bush blooming with flowers. I had expected this to happen sometime during the next week. Our recent very warm weather coaxed them out and they are scenting the neighborhood with wonderful fragrance.
Here are some Blue Bells that were planted some years ago near the Magnolia tree in the island between the driveway and the front lawn.
Again, from another angle are the Blue Bells.
Here's another bed of them near the garage entrance by the Rhododendron's. I'll add to this entry as things progress. I hope you're experiencing beautiful weather this weekend where ever you may live.
13 comments:
Am I really first?!
I love lilacs, Butch. Wish I had some. Tried a transplant that didn't take, but don't know why I don't make another attempt. They and daphne intoxicate me to no end.
Smells so good over here! Thanks. G
And thank you SO MUCH by way of Greg, of course, for teaching me what bleeding hearts are. I have had them in my forest for twenty-seven years and never thought to pursue their name. I took some pictures of them this year. Good to know. A learning and teaching blog you have here, Butch.
I want to sneak over to the neighbors and cut some for the house they smell so darn good.
Gawpo: All the credit for my knowledge of Bleeding Hearts goes to our friend who resides in Cape Cod, Greg. He is a great resource and I have ( and am ) learned a lot from him.
We ( Steve ) clipped some of them off to make a bouquet and took them over to our neighbor. His wife is in the end stages of her cancer and we thought it might brighten her day a wee bit.
The bush you see in the picture was transplanted from a spot too shady in the back yard. It was there for about four years and never bloomed or grew very much until we transplanted to the very sunny spot in the front. After about three years, it started blooming and every year after, there were more and more blooms. We have another one on the other side of the driveway that hasn't bloomed yet but should be hopefully next year. Our third one is by the house near the patio and beside it is where I found the Bleeding Hearts this year. This Lilac hasn't bloomed yet either but give it a few years and we should have the whole neighborhood intoxicated by the smell of lilacs. Many thanks for your kind words.
Torn: Make sure you dress in Ninja black and do your sortie at night when snipping the blossoms, it might be worth the raid if you can choose some that won't be noticed off the bush. ;-) Find a way to desplay them on your blog and fein innocence if someone finds you out. " I know nothingk." as the famous Sarge said on Hogan's Hero's.
Reading about the recent blooming of lilacs on yours and Torn's blog makes me think that maybe someday I'll arrange a spring trip where I slowly move north, following the bloom of lilacs. They're already mostly on the way out here, and have long since disappeared from the flower stores. I only managed to fill my apartment with them once this season, and the scent never filled the place as it can (I got blossoms that were too old, I think). If violets coincide with lilac the way they do here, then I would have two reasons for my trip.
Thanks for helping to prolong my lilac enjoyment, even if it's vicarious.
Patric: I think this variety is called "Old Fashioned," and they have a very strong perfume. I hadn't noticed them visually but after opening the garage door, they came in with the breeze and immediately got my attention. I'm guessing they must be 30 yards from the garage door and were strong enough to still scent the breeze. I wish there were a way to send along the scent your direction but, we are talking coast to coast. ;-(
When we lived in Chicago, there was a weed that sent up a tall stock with a multiple flowered, sphere-like shape of pink flowers that only gave off the heavily scented smell at night time. Rather than getting rid of it, I let it grow and enjoyed the nightly smell of it until it was spent. I haven't any idea what it was other than if you cut into the stock, it produced a milky substance. I haven't seen them out here in the Northwest.
In any event, glad you enjoyed the pictures and stopped by.
Lilacs were always the queen of spring growing up, and evoked an extravagent affection for me. There were lavender ones in the back yard and the gate at the cottage was flanked by white and wine. Those lush spikes were the only flowers on the May altar that I made for the blessed mother one year.
Joe: They do remind me of May, come to think of it, and this variety are called "Old Fashioned" I think. The would be the oldest type of Lilac. Our other two bushes will not be blooming this year since they have not been in their places for three years. I understand they start blooming after three years if they like the spot where they have been planted. I'm looking forward to the others giving up their flowers for the Spring as well.
Lilacs make a beautiful and fitting offering for any altar in my opinion, and the smells add to the other senses of the occasion.
Butch, thank you for sharing yours! There shan't be any at our place this year.
I will probably lead some kind of late night Tornwordo-style commando raid on some seemingly-unattended bush that seems to have blossoms to spare!
I need that scent in the house at least once a year!! Plus, of course, there's the whole purple thing...
Greg: True, true! You can come here and see them virtually anytime you like. Too bad I can't figure out a way to have "smell-o-internet." One could get rich on that one! ;-)
Like I mentioned to Torn, dress in your best Ninja outfit and stealthfully, tippy-toe up to them on "cat's paws", grab, snip and run like hell!! Possession is
9/10ths by law. ( is that really true or an urban legend? ) Enquiring minds want to know. ;-)
Oh I love laundry dried on lines beside lilacs. The smell is divine.
Butch I love your lilacs!
xo
Gillian: Many thanks! They really are quite nice this year.
Post a Comment