How to Grow and Care for Lilac Bushes
Aside from Roses, there is no flower as beautiful and aromatic as Lilacs.
Of the two, Lilacs have a stronger scent that carries quite a distance.
Unfortunately, Lilacs bloom for only a very brief couple weeks in the spring.
To prolong their presence in your yard, grow a variety of Lilacs, including,
early, mid and late varieties. With variety and luck, you may be able to
see Lilacs in bloom in your yard for up to six weeks. Weather will have a
lot to do with how long your blooms last. Once the buds begin to open, pray
for a cool dry spell. Once the blooms are over, you still have a nice shade
bush, but you have to wait for up to fifty more weeks to see them again.
History:
Lilacs in the United States date back to the mid 1750's. They were grown
in America's first botanical gardens and were popular in New England. Both
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew them in their gardens. Lilac
bushes can live for hundreds of years. A lilac bush planted at that time,
may still be around. Lilacs originated from Europe and Asia, with the majority
of natural varieties coming from Asia. In Europe, lilacs came from the Balkans,
France and Turkey.
Where is the Lilac Capital of the World? Many areas grow them and
many have a wide variety in large numbers. But Rochester, N.Y. undoubtedly
is the Lilac Capital of the World. It's love for Lilacs dates back to 1892
when Highland Park horticulturalist John Dunbar planted 20 varieties on the
sunny southern slopes of the park. Highland Park in Rochester is the scene
of an annual, two week long Lilac Festival ,with over a half a million people
attending the event each year. This park has over 500 varieties of lilacs
and more than 1200 lilac bushes in the parks' 155 acres. They hold a huge,
annual Lilac Festival,
In addition, many homes and parks in the Rochester, NY area have one or more
lilac bushes. If you take a ride along many of the Finger Lakes, you will
find thousands of them along the roadside. The sweet fragrance comes right
through your open window, as you drive along.
A Stately Bush: On August 18, 2006, New York State Governor George
Pataki proclaimed the Lilac as the State bush.
Lilac Cities:
In addition to Rochester, NY, a few other cities in the U.S. and Canada are
well known for their love of Lilacs. They include:
Cornwall in Ontario, Canada boasts the "City of Lilacs" and rivals Rochester,
NY in size of their collection.
Rochester, New Hampshire also calls themselves the "Lilac City". Lilacs are
the state flower.
Spokane, Washington is nicknamed the "Lilac City". Each spring, they
have a Lilac parade and festival.
Did You Know? There are over 1,000 varieties of Lilacs. They come
in several colors, with the most popular being the color lilac and purple.
White and pink are also popular. They also vary widely in size from the small
4 to 8 foot varieties to types that can grow up to 30 feet. So there is a
variety perfect for your needs.
Check out the
Lilac
Picture Gallery . And, don't miss one of the local school bands that
play at the festival. Lilac Festival Stage
Other Lilac Links:
International
Lilac Society
When Lilacs Last Bloomed A poem by Walt Whitman
(1865)
Did you Know? Lilacs are edible!
Adorable Homepages:
Hulda Klager
Lilac Gardens Some great pictures, you can almost smell them.
More Information:
Buy
Lilac Bushes a great selection of popular Lilac varieties
Buy Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Finest quality
Ferry Morse Seed, America's oldest seed company with their famous "guarantee
to grow".
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