Lilac Time
Years ago we planted a lilac shrub in front of our house. It
slowly grew each summer and put out lovely pale purple blossoms. Now it is
large, full and bushy, with a scent that envelops us as we open our front door.
The bush is thriving and expanding; we will need to prune it back – again –
after the flowering season.
We also planted a lilac bush in our backyard. It was a
different variety with darker flowers and a more delicate scent. It grew tall
and leggy and did not do as well. The trees that were growing up at the same
time provided too much shade for this sun-loving plant. So we dug it up and
replanted it in a sunnier location. For two years it reluctantly put out
leaves, no flowers, and half of it stopped growing at all. It looked so fragile,
almost pathetic. This year, much to our surprise, it bloomed with such
incredible vigor on one side that we staked it and each day look out in wonder
at the rejuvenation of this beauty, in awe of its will to live.
Two bushes, very different personalities, same family (Syringa
vulgaris). One had an optimal
growth situation, the other was forced to deal with a challenge. Yet they both
found a way to express themselves in relation to their circumstances. And we
love them both.
That’s the joy of diversity. There’s something to admire in
every expression of life.
Lilacs can enhance any garden:
Posts
Ferida,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute essay about your lilacs. I love lilacs--they smell so good!
Barbara
Their scent is something that cannot be ignored, for sure. Lilacs have personality!
DeleteOur lilac bush was severely overgrown so two years ago my husband and I took the pruning shears to it drastically and at the wrong time. As expected, the following year, we had very few blooms, but wow, this year was wonderful. The moral of the story: most plants love to be pruned and shaped even though it may hurt you to do it.
ReplyDeleteIt does feel uncomfortable to trim back plants. I always worry about them. But you're right, they mostly appreciate the care, even if it takes a season to recoup. Glad to hear that your lilac responded so vibrantly.
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