Come see the lilacs blooming at my farm - are yours blooming? Please leave a comment and let me know

Who doesn’t love the fragrance of lilacs?  Incredibly sturdy and undemanding, lilacs are so much a part of our landscape that they’re considered American classics.  However, it was the early Dutch and French settlers who brought them here.  Already well established in Europe, lilacs sailed into the New World by ship and later, they traversed the land by covered wagon.  In fact, one of the earliest plantings still flourishing today was planted in Mackinac Island, Michigan around 1650.  Despite their hardy nature, most lilacs can’t tolerate the Deep South or desert regions since they require a cold period in order to flower.

There are many varieties of lilacs and by planting an assortment, bloom time will be staggered and can last for up to two months.  Just be sure to plant lilacs in full sun, which is necessary for good blooming.  The soil should be rich, and well-drained, and fairly neutral in pH.  Improper pruning also affects blooming.  If you cut bouquets of lilacs when they’re in bloom, you’ve pruned the tree correctly.  Then remove any remaining flowers from the tree just as they fade.  And never prune after July 4th because at that point, the tree has already begun to set next year’s flower buds.

This is my very fragrant lilac garden

I planted this allee of lilac just a couple of years ago.  There
are many different varieties.  My tennis court is in the rear.

lilac color

white

purple

pink

pale pink

a beautiful double lilac

Click Here to Visit our Lilac Glossary at Marthastewart.com

Comments

[Cynthia S]

Oh, how lovely! Oddly enough, my own lilacs just a few miles away in Chappaqua are already passing out of bloom...I must have all the same variety of early-season bloomers (they are about 50 years old, put in by the former owners of the house).
Thank you for sharing your lilacs; they definitely make me appreciate the ones in my own garden!

[Casey]

While I'm not lucky enough to have lilacs of my own to enjoy, there are several in bloom here in the city of Seattle. In fact on my walk today I noticed a couple turning brown already!

[Renee]

Ahhhhh!
Simply Beautiful!
Happy Spring!!!

[Lisa]

Yes!!........Mine are blooming here near Seattle as well! Just gorgeous and smell great!

[Frances Jackson]

The lilacs are beautiful! It's a shame that they don't grow well in the south. It seems that I have heard of a variety that can be grown in my zone, however, I don't have room for any more shrubs in the garden! Your gardens are so lovely. Good luck this year in the gardens. Hope you get the right mix of sunshine and rain for everything to prosper!

[Lisa]

Yes!!........Mine are blooming here near Seattle as well! Just gorgeous and smell great!

[jeny Martin]

My lilacs are fading already and I just finished pruning yesterday. I've been nursing them back to a healthy bloom for several years now and this year was their best showing yet. Yours are absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing. I love lilac time and just did my own post last week. I am thoroughly enjoying your blog!

[Evelyn Ackbarali]

I will never forget my first trip to New York City in 1984. It was in the month of May. I was walking down one of the streets and came across a florist shop. The windows were filled with pink peonies and purple lilacs. I purchased several bunches, came back to my hotel room and filled every water glass in the room. Since I lived on th West Coast, I had never seen such beautiful flowers. That memory will be with me forever. Thank you for sharing the lovely photographs.

[Silvia]

I Martha,
I love the lilac color because I sow it in the garden of my mother.
Ciao,
Silvia

[Anne]

Yes, here in Denmark the lilacs are blooming too. One of the best parts of spring. :)

[Pamela Regentin]

I just spent the evening making lilac bouquets - for the dining room, my bedroom, one for my mother and for our new neighbors. I'm especially loving my dark purple lilac that because I have pruned it religiously always has lovely long straight stems on the blooms. I like to mix them with the paler lavender lilac in a bouquet. I have a double white, planted last year that I'm anxious to see. This year's new shrub ( a gift from my church) has a bloom that is dark purple with white edges.

I loved seeing your lilac garden photos, Martha! Thanks for sharing!

[Stephanie]

Heaven. What beautiful photographs - I adore lilacs and can practically smell them through the blog!!

Is it possible to update the blog with the name of the different varieties? You are such an inspiration and when I see something I love - I want to order myself!!

Love the allee! I like the way you are massing things together now - all your peonies together, lilacs together, etc... it's a dramatic showing!

Love you Martha!

[Isle Dance]

I love lilacs. My Swedish grandmother planted and tended to lilacs in her garden. They always smelled heavenly.

[Silje]

I come from Norway, and where I live our lilacs have yet to bloom. We're looking very much forwards to them doing so though, since we have 2 great, big bushes of lilacs in our front yard :)

[Nan Ashby]

My favorite color is the lilac color. How beautiful. Will they grow and do okay in southern middle Tennessee? I sure would like them in my yard. Your allee of lilacs is so lovely. Call me and I'll play a round of tennis with you as long as we enter the court by way of the lilac allee. Nan

[Robinmhealy]

Beautiful garden Martha. I live close to Rochester NY, home of the Lilac festival, which just ended. Your stunning collection of Lilac's must smell wonderful. My personal collection is of White double flowering lilac's. However, I hope to add the darker purple and some pink. Thanks for sharing your garend with us.

[Shannon]

Martha,
Lilacs always remind me of home! When I was little, I constantly filled my parents house with bouquets of Lilacs and Viburnum from the many bushes my grandfather had started. Now whenever I smell either, it brings back sweet memories!

[Rachel]

Yes! The lilacs in my backyard are blooming at last -- we have one lilac-colored and one white tree. Spring finally made it to Seattle!

[Donna]

We were blessed to have 2 lilac bushes at our home we purchased last year. When we bought it I had no idea what they were until I watched your show on them last year. They are my daughter's favorite bush in our yard.

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Your allee of lilacs if beautiful. I can almost smell the fragrance wafting on the air. Seeing your beautiful blooms reminds me of the dark purple variety I planted at home; my Mom loved the smell. My sister has the lighter purple lilac, and it has grown quite large.
Thanks for the beautiful photos of your flower-filled allee and for the memories!
Kathy

[Becky from Wisconsin]

Your photos really show what a color variety lilacs have. I have three Korean lilacs that are just getting flowers on them. We've had a cold Spring here in WI. My Japanese tree lilac hasn't bloomed for two years and I don't know why. The tree looks healthy enough. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

[Heidi]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! I wish I had scratch n' sniff on my computer screen!

[Rowaida Flayhan]

Dear Martha,
You are blessed!!!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful and breathtaking photos of your Lilacs.
God Bless
Rowaida Flayhan

[Amy T.]

Our lilacs here in Missouri have come and gone. I honeymooned in Mackinac Island during the lilac festival in 2004. I swooned the entire time!

[Susan]

Beautiful to see! Ours here in Nova Scotia are just about to 'pop". Lilacs are one of my favorites for their delicious fragrance, and early spring colour, but also because my mother has always had a huge one in her backyard, so when I bought my own home, it was the first thing I planted.