Happy May Day

So if the old saying "April showers bring May flowers" we are due for quite a flowerful May.

Today, between downpours, I decided to take a little tour of my garden.  Now, I haven't really gotten into full garden mode yet, but my lilacs are on the brink of blooming.

I LOVE lilacs.  

I have many different types of lilac trees in my yard.  I would have a lilac forest if I could.  Their only draw back is that their season is just too short for my liking.  However, for a few weeks in May, my yard and house smell amazing.

When we looked at our house there was a lilac in the corner of the backyard.  It was in the summer so the blooms were long gone, but I took it as a good sign.  It turned out that the lilac was in fact a very light blushy pink.  I don't know the name, but I love the light colored blooms. 

I planted this a couple of years ago.  I love to pick up lilacs at the nursery, post season, so they are marked way down.  I don't know the name of this one either, but I'm just glad it is blooming.  Our lawn guy likes to prune.  Every year I have to follow him around shouting "don't cut that!!".  Lilacs bloom on old growth. If you prune too much you won't get blooms the following year.

Here is another lilac that barely escaped.  It looks kind of funny with the flowers being so low on the bush.  Next year I'm hoping for full bloom.

This lilac I call the Katie May.  My friend, Katie, gave me a sucker off a tree in her back yard.  I planted it and waited for it to grow. I waited and waited and then we moved.  I dug it up and took it with me and waited some more.  Finally after 10 + years, it bloomed.  There are only  two bunches of flowers this year, but I'm encouraged. 

I planted this lilac by my living room windows so they would make my living room smell good.  It is called Bridal Memories and it has a very strong (in a good way) scent.  This is another bush I dug up and brought with me when we moved.  It is amazing how much abuse these lilacs can take.

Last, but not least, is my Pocahontas Lilac.  While I like the shade of purple, it is a more bluish purple, I bought it because of its name.  My grandma was born in Pocahontas, Virginia.  She would always tell me stories of her adventures growing up there.  So when I saw this little baby at the nursery, I snatched it up.  Now every spring when it blooms I think of her.

So there you have it, my Lilac collection.  It has been a while since my last lilac, so I'm sure I will be on the look out for a new one. 

Do you have a favorite lilac?