Thursday, April 17, 2008

Lilac Week

Lilacs don't really grow well in Southern California -- at least not on the coast (I assume they need a hard freeze or something) -- so they're somewhat of a rarity. However, I've really loved them ever since I was a child, for some reason. I think it's the scent.

In any case, they appear at the shops and markets here for about two or three weeks sometime each spring, and even though I usually haven't had a line item for flowers in the budget lately, I decided this bunch was worth every penny of the $8.99.

Nothing says spring to me like this.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is not a...oh, OK. This can be a flower blog if you want. Those are lovely.

LadrĂ³n de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

My grandmother in Kansas City had an enormous lilac bush that I remember being over seven feet tall, but it was probably more like five feet. Regardless, it filled the yard with its scent and color that I still have vivid memories of. It was my favorite place to play, and I would sometimes hide behind the bush or under it and make up secret worlds, words and stories. The scent and sight of them still trigger very soothing memories. I've tried to grow them here and am lucky to get one paltry bloom every three years. Some things like that are just meant to remain elusive memories that can never be regained. Enjoy yours.

Stash said...

Oh, it was a nice 77 degrees today in Hobbiton.

Finally!

Joe said...

huntington: You're right, this is not a flower blog.

ldb: It's very much a childhood comfort memory. I feel that way about hyacinths as well.

stash: it's only 62 degrees here today, but last weekend it was 85 or so, which was a total rarity.

Steven said...

I've always had an emotional thing with lilacs too. The smell still makes me swoon.

We had a bush in our back yard when I was growing up. One year a huge spider had a web in it. Seriously, its body was like an inch across. It scared the hell out of me.

A few years ago I spent two summers in a tiny village in southern Utah, and I lived in an RV that was parked under a stand of blue spruce trees next to an orchard. Just outside the camper there were several very tall, rangy lilac bushes. They bloomed for weeks. That's my favorite place I've ever lived.

Thanks for evoking such nice memories this morning!

TigerYogiji said...

Faaaabulous!

Salty Miss Jill said...

I am waiting for the lilacs to bloom here. When they do, I will send you some. :)

joe*to*hell said...

OOOH mine are about a week from exploding. i cant wait. the smell makes me the giddiest gay in the county