The Lilac Presence
Purple is a color that cannot be ignored. At least not in
nature. I see purple tulips in people’s yards, purple buds on flowering plum
trees, purple outlining pansies. It is a dramatic color. And nothing is more
dramatic in my Spring garden than the lilac bush. It insists I pay attention to
it. It has an intense presence that calls me to come and admire it. And admire
it I do, knowing that this will only last two to three weeks before the
blossoms fall and all I will see will be green leaves.
But lilacs are just as famous for their scent as their
color. The early buds are tight, withholding their smell until the flowers
open. Then they release their heady fragrance, filling the air like the perfume
sprayers at department stores. It is an imitated scent in perfumes, candles,
oils.
Yet, as with most things, lilacs vary. The deep purple is
only one of its shades. They can be lighter purple, pinkish, sky blue,
sometimes yellow or white. And the scent varies depending upon the stage of
blossoming, the time of day, and the kind of lilac; there are dozens of
varieties that can smell sweet or spicy, cloying or calming. The lilac is a
harbinger of Spring and also symbolizes first love.
It isn’t necessary to analyze the lilac to value it though. Each
type can be appreciated for its own individuality. It kind of reminds me of
babies; they all belong to a specific category, that of baby, but each one
immediately exhibits its own personality, preferences, and energy, and every
child has a presence from the moment of her/his birth. I find it refreshing
that no two of anything is exactly alike – not people, not birds, not animals,
not flowers, not even lilacs.
What to know if you want to plant lilacs:
And more about lilacs:
http://flowerstracy.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-common-knowledge-about-beautiful.html
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