Monday, May 24, 2010

Last of the Lilacs

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We gardeners love to see the first buds of the Lilacs as they start to open.  Breathing deep of that sweet fragrance.  If you are fortunate you will be enjoying a arm full of them as cut flowers either from your garden, or from a generous friends.  I cherish every moment that they are in bloom, and miss them when they are gone.

I have visions of our future farm, complete with a fruit orchard, and masses of lilac trees.  Every color that will grow up in the Okanagan, from white to dark purple, to picotte magenta. They will have to replace the cherries that we are used to coloring up the spring on this wet coast.

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Due to the possibility of disease affecting the over 20 million dollar cherry industry, it is illegal to grow ornamental cherries up there.  And while I will miss those gorgeous blooms in the spring, I am hoping that masses of lilacs will make up for it.

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So for now, I am treasuring my glimpses of the blossoms that grow down here, while looking forward to what will be blooming up there in our future.

Jen

24 comments:

  1. Mmmmm... I can still smell them from my childhood in Michigan! We used to ride our bikes to a field that was lined with them and bring home armfuls. Sadly, no lilacs here in the desert.

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  2. Very pretty pictures Jen. I love the fragrance of lilacs. My cat, Kaboodle, reacts to our lilac bush like it was catnip! I hope you have a nice day.

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  3. Gorgeous lilac shots. I can almost smell them. How sad that they cannot have cherry blossom, I could not imagine spring without it.

    RO xxx

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  4. hmmmm, I can smell them from here!
    Beautiful!

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  5. I do so hate to see them go, Jen. I love May flowers! We are experiencing unseasonably hot/humid weather, not my favorite. My garden, though beautiful, is in fast forward :( I can barely keep up! Just posted a mini-tour. Pop over for a visit!

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  6. Jen..
    I was thinking the same thing as I looked at my Lilacs last evening..
    Most are finished, but several new ones have opened..
    and the fragrance is still DIVINE!
    smiles..
    Loui♥

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  7. I just collected some late blooms for the house. The fragrance is intoxicating!

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  8. Gorgeous images! That first one is truly breathtaking.

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  9. So gorgeous..my husband "trimmed" our lilac bushes/trees and I'm anxious to see if any blooms come this year. I see green leaves coming but so far no buds... :-((
    Beautiful lilacs- stunning colour...enjoy them!!

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  10. Wish they would stay all summer.
    Patsy

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  11. Awww, the scent of it all. So sorry to hear of your cherry trees. That's dreadful news. I cannot imagine my yard without the sweet smells of cherry blossoms drifting through the air.
    BlessYa

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  12. Illegal to grow ornamental cherries? Heartbreaking!

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  13. Very beautiful flowers! They are the most fragrant flowers and the shades of lilac are lovely! ♥

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  14. I was in a garden centre this morning and the lilacs were blooming like crazy. What a scent in the air.

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  15. Jen, My early lilacs are gone by and pruned already... just yesterday, but the later blooming lilacs are still going. Try Miss Canada if you do not have her already... perfect for you if you like pink. Nothing though is quite like those French lilacs! Yum!

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  16. Your photos are always so awesome. What kind of lens do you use?

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  17. Beautiful pictures Jen as always. I always hate to see the blooms on the lilacs fad too. Mine were so full and fragrant this spring and the fragrance just smelled so good blowing across the yard.

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  18. Hi Jen, The photos are lovely..I can almost smell the Lilacs. The lilacs up here suffered in the frost..so they were pretty puny..I did find a few that were ok up north! But nothing like last year. Have you ever seen the Primrose Lilac..I have not it is supposed to be pale yellow. No Cherries for you up north..it will be so good you won't miss them:)

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  19. I can almost smell the sweet fragrance from your pictures! I have 6 baby lilacs that only put out a few blooms this year. I'm looking forward to armfuls of blooms in the future.

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  20. It sounds like you're getting closer to making that dream a reality. I do hope so!

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  21. I love the shadows and softness on your lilacs. You are such a great and gifted photographer, Jen!
    Brenda

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  22. When are you moving Jen ? I hope it is soon :) Lilacs will be even better than cherries since they have such a heavenly fragrance.

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  23. Oh, how I love the different shades of lilac... Their fragrance is heavenly. They have just started to bloom over here!

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  24. Yes, I agree with another comment. I can almost smell that lilac. Great photos. Whimsy! Thanks for posting. Look forward to dropping in again.

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Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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