The Lilacs Are Blooming

Last year our lilac bush hardly bloomed at all. It's old. Well, our house is probably 40 years old and I'd bet that these lilacs were planted when the house was built. So we've never really expected much from that lilac bush.

Well, let me tell you...this year it is almost entirely covered with blossoms. And the fragrance is beautiful. Lots of people don't like the scent of lilacs but I do. I think that most people take lilacs for granted. I decided to hunt up information about lilacs just to satisfy my own curiosity.

Did you know that there are more than 1,000 varieties of lilacs? And that they can live for hundreds of years? I didn't.

They say that if you want them to bloom longer in the springtime, you should plant more than one variety. Makes sense.

While looking for information, I learned that Rochester, N.Y. is the Lilac Capital of the World. In 1892 twenty varieties of lilacs were planted in Highland Park and almost everyone in Rochester has at least one lilac bush.

A Lilac Festival is held every year that draws more than a half million people!

Now there are more than 500 varieties and 1,200 bushes planted on 155 acres in that park!

However long our lilacs survive they certainly can't compete with that!