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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,652
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

 

Here we are almost at Canada Day and the Lilacs are just now in full bloom. I like the Miss Kim and Bloomerang but, I confess, my favorite is the common Lilac, now harder to find than the others.

 

I have 10 lilacs and two Ivory Silks on the property.  Sure smells good today.  LM

 

Common Lilac

 

93C9395B-B9BA-4B6A-BDE5-26EF4B61C923.jpeg

 

Miss Kim bush lilac

 

A4402D31-896B-4BB1-8B6C-BFFFC21A7A4E.jpeg

 

 

Mr. Squirrel

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Miss Kim grafted

622BAD3F-9706-4221-ADAF-87F2171FA904.jpeg

 

Bloomerang

A47CC33A-513D-4A5C-B199-666BA5B8C733.jpeg

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,757
Registered: ‎09-06-2014

They are beautiful and smell so good.  I'm from the Midwest and now live in the Southwest so lilacs don't grow here.  Other flowers I miss are peonies and lily of the valley.   

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,652
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@Catty2 , I have loads of lilies of the valley and I love their smell too!  My father had quite a green thumb and he had beautiful peonies on his property.  So lush!  They were very old and are now at my brother’s cottage close to our family home,  I am sure they are at least 70 years old.  LM

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,654
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Lilac Fever

[ Edited ]

If you can find it, look for Frank Klager, an older variety, very fragrant & a deep purple color. I think that is the lilac taken from my aunt’s house to my dad’s. Lilacs are like hydrangeas, easily propagated by layering. 

 

The Canadian Miss Kim, has a bloom half the size of the traditional lilacs but it won’t get powdery mildew, it was bred for disease resistance.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,897
Registered: ‎05-27-2015

@Lilysmom  Beautiful pictures! I love lilacs, they are my favorite! When DH was finishing college in Germany, I wanted to buy some lilac stems from the market, but they were too expensive (5 DM per sprig!)) so I bought a children's water color box and painted them! Now I have purple and white old fashioned lilacs.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Lucky, lucky you, @Lilysmom 

The wonderfully fragrant common lilac doesn't get enough winter chill to bloom well here where I am in CA.

It seems even the lilac bouquets they have for sale in stores lately have no fragrance.  Now that I just cannot understand.  The fragrance is everything!

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,490
Registered: ‎06-24-2011

I now live on the southwest coast, and it's too warm to grow lilacs. I miss them sooo much! We used to have a long hedge of lilacs at the end our our property. I've bought lilac scented candles and home fragrance, but most vendors have replaced lilac with lavender. I'd love twelve long-stemmed lilacs from a florist more than roses.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,767
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Ahhhhhh..................

♥Surface of the Sun♥
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,652
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@JustJazzmom , interesting fact about flower size.  I have three common lilacs, one of which I moved three years ago.  It hasn’t bloomed until this year.  Lilacs must love the cool wet because that is the kind of Spring we have had and the bushes are loaded.  

 

I have to get the step ladder out to trim the common lilacs and I never trim Miss Kim.  I have two Bloomerangs so I should check on whether I should trim those.  Any thoughts?  

 

The Ivory Silks are loaded too.  They are at least 25’ High so no trimming there.  LM

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,652
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@PA Mom-mom , the white lilacs are not so common here.  I will keep my eye open for one.  LM