Sweet Lilacs

All my life, I have been madly in love with lilacs.

Walking to elementary school in the spring, I'd bury my face in the bunches of gorgeous purple flowers that grew on big bushes.

Then, I'd drink in the heavenly rather intoxicating fragrance.

As a young mother with two small children at home, there was no money to spend on treasures but every spring, I could feel like a queen with a bouquet of lilacs on the dining room table.

As a matter of fact, I'd put bouquets in every room of the house.

My paternal grandparents were Lithuanian.  It surprised me to read that lilacs are native to European Baltic countries!  

No wonder I love them so much! Maybe my Grandma picked them in her native land when she was a young girl.

There are 21 species of lilacs, according to Friends of the Farm website (Friends of the Experimental Farm in Canada.  www,friendsofthefarm.ca)

The Friends volunteers take care of ornamental gardens, where lilacs are grown, as well as an arboretum.

Did you know the name lilac is from a Persian word that means bluish?  That's what the website divulged!

I've seen lilacs mostly in purple and white and, on rare occasions, in pink. All are beautiful.

DO LILACS GROW WHERE YOU LIVE?