in the garden - lilacs

I was worried being away for the long weekend, that given all the gorgeous weather we've been having, the Lilacs would bloom and I would miss them.

They were so close to opening when I left, and we all know how quickly they come and go.

Happily, they were just ready for cutting by the time we returned, and I didn't miss enjoying them. The first thing I did the next morning was head out to the garden and snip a bouquet for our dining room table.

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I'm partial to this white variety, Mme Lemoine, but I do have to say, they aren't quite as fragrant as some of the more traditional purple varieties. But they still smell lovely!

And then while out with the boys, I couldn't resist picking a few branches of these purple ones on some back road. They are classically beautiful.

The First Lilacs and Lily of the Valley

We've been enjoying the warm Spring evenings in the garden, puttering about the yard. The sunlight is soft and dappled and the yard is peaceful.

It's also more fragrant now that our Lilacs have been blooming.

There are even a few early flowering bells of Lily of the Valley, which too add their fragrance.

And what's better than being able to bring some inside to enjoy?

Budding Lilacs

Some days, this is what mothering looks like. 

Peaceful. 

Today it looked more like a broken television, and dirty hand prints on drawers, and a ripped slipcover, and uneaten lunches, and angry protests that bedtime came and the sun was still shining.

It was a whole lot of lacking patience.

I needed to escape for a few moments and find some peace. So after the bath water was drained, and teeth were brushed and two grumpy boys picked out books to read quietly while the sun went down, I put on a sweater and headed out to the gardens.

Back in December, due to such warm temperatures, I had noticed our Lilacs had actually started producing buds. Another listener that weekend on a CBC garden segement had called in with the same concern I had - would this effect our Lilacs in the coming Spring? The gardening expert simply wasn't sure as it's a very uncommon problem. We would simply need to wait and see.

And so, I've been patiently observing the buds, hoping I wouldn't be denied one of my most favourite joys in Spring.

As I escaped to the garden, the sky glowing red with the setting sun, I found the little bit of joy I was looking for.

 

There will indeed be blooming Lilacs this Spring.

Lilacs

There are three varieties of Lilacs in our gardens, only one of which, the white variety, were planted by myself.

The other two varieties are probably close to twenty five years old.

When planting our gardens, one aspect in selecting flowers to plant that's very important to me is choosing flowers that can be enjoyed both in the garden, and in our home. This is why the majority of our gardens consist of Hydrangeas and Peonies and Roses. All of these make for visually appealing gardens, but also provide cuttings for beautiful bouquets to enjoy throughout each room.

Lilacs are the first of the garden's blooms that I am able to clip and arrange in pretty vessels, and display wherever they might be enjoyed. A large bouquet in a pitcher is placed on our dining room table, as well as my night table, and coffee table. Smaller vases are set beside the sink, and on the vanity and by lamps in vignettes.

It means that whatever I might be doing, waking up, washing dishes or quietly reading, there are always flowers to delight in.

And in the case of Lilacs, there's the added pleasure of their enchanting fragrance. It fills the house.

Our bushes are between our home, and our neighbor's. This is from our master bedroom. When the days are warm, our windows are always open and the scent wafts through on the breeze.

Here is a good, simple resource for everything from pruning your Lilac's to rejuvenating old bushes.

Lilacs - Martha Stewart

Lilacs in Bloom and A Pair of Antique Frames

I've found that recently, when I'm not able to get out antiquing, eBay can be a great resource for locating pieces I'm looking for.

I have the benefit of being less than half an hour from the border, so shipping costs are much more reasonable than always having to pay for international shipping. And really, you can find just about everything!

This little ironstone pitcher was a recent purchase. With shipping, it was comparable to what I would have paid at a shop here. I liked the square shape and delicate handle.

I filled it with some of my first Lilac cuttings from a new bush planted last year. My other Lilacs are purple, and aren't quite ready. The fragrance of these is slightly less floral than the others. These still have a sweet scent, but it's not quite the well-known Lilac scent.

I also recently purchased this pair of small antique frames, which measure 9 x 8. It was $30 for the pair. I'm always looking for small frames. They're great for by night tables, and near cabinets in the kitchen, or in other small spaces about the house. The paintings they came with were quite dated, but I thought they would look beautiful with some small prints, or sketches, or even a pair of small paintings.

This small painting was a recent steal as well. It was a field sketch from an artist, and with shipping it came to less than $5! It's a very simple landscape, but it's bright, and it was more than worth it.

It brings new life to the frame.

Budding Lilacs and Open Windows

You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but yesterday the temperature climbed up into the mid-twenties. It was wonderful. We've been making the most of the warm temperatures by having all of the windows open and spending our afternoons in the sun.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the warm weather either.

 Our Lilac bushes have burst with green buds! They're a most promising sight.

The Last of The Lilacs

The Lilacs have nearly finished.

I've mentioned it before, but one of the reasons we fell in love with our house was coming into the master bedroom and seeing these beautiful Lilac bushes in full bloom, just outside the window. Years later, it's still something we look forward to each Spring. There's something so lovely about having the windows open and the scent of Lilacs blowing in on the breeze.

I feel like this year they took their time arriving, and yet once here, the season seemed so short.

This beautiful little bouquet was from my Aunt Jeanette's garden.

Orchards in Bloom

I almost missed them.

The rows of apple, peach and pear trees covered in delicate white and pink blossoms. A brilliant display of Spring. A blanket of petals over the countryside.

I decided to head down the road, to our local orchards, and spend a few minutes walking through the trees.

A light Sring shower had left the grass damp and the petals dripping the last of the evening rain.

I was so happy I didn't miss them alltogether.

I even cut a few budding Lilacs. I'm looking forward to them opening, and their sweet fragrance filling the house.