Lovin' that Lilac!

Wow!  Our lilac bush has strutted its stuff this spring! We planted this as a little bitty slip about ten years ago, and now it is taller and much wider than me!

This big beautiful shrub came from a little start we bought from a charming old country woman who had such a green thumb! 

Her yard was covered in upside-down glass quart jars, all incubating heirloom varieties of roses and other flowering shrubs.  She is gone now, but that is a happy memory.  I wish I had taken pictures!

I am lovin' lilac in such a big way right now!

A little Google-time has taught me that the clusters of itty bitty individual flowers is called a panicle.  Hmmnn....how can I work THAT into a conversation today?  *grin*

Lilacs are native to Europe and Asia.  There are only about 20 species in this plant family.

This pale reddish light purple blue flower is one of the old varieties.  This color lilac, according to the Language of Flowers, represents First Love.  *smile* 

This particular variety has a very soft, subtle fragrance that you can barely smell unless you bury your nose in the panicles, so it is wonderful for centerpieces where food is served!  (Wheee....I've now used that new-to-me word in a sentence today!  LOL)

Lilacs bloom on old wood, so pruning is not really advisable.  That is good to know 'cause we wanted this to be big and bushy on this west side of the old farmhouse. 

(Translation:  we don't get around to pruning our flowering shrubs and peach trees every year, so we have a style of  "natural exuberant growth"!  HA!)

Here is the Lilac ornament I sculpted last year. 

I've had numerous requests to make a Lilac brooch.  Maybe I can squeeze it in this year.

So MUCH is going on in the studio right now, and I can't talk about any of it.....yet!  Exciting times! 

The washer is ready for another load of clothes, so I must run.  It feels so GOOD to actually FEEL like doing house work!  Happy morning!

Comments

[Penny]

Wow,Thanks June! Gordon and I truly appreciate the dual compliment! He takes many of the photos on this blog, and he is an irreplaceable member of the porcelain studio!

"Ole Eagle Eyes" reads my blog, too, so I can't tell any funny stories about him! *wicked grin*

I'm looking forward to seeing your blog or Flickr photostream, June! Thanks again for visiting and commenting!

Fondly,
Penny

[June]

Your flowers are stunningly beautiful, Penny. Oh, I love these pictures of yours.

I am so impressed with the ornaments you make--truly gorgeous.

[Penny]

Hi Lettie! Surely Lilac could grow in Hawaii! That is such a beautiful "hot-house" for so many flowering plants! I'd be curious to learn if you do have Lilac in Hawaii!

Anina: I need to go hang out at our Lilac bush at dusk then because the fragrance is very mild....which is good for table decorations so the smell does not overpower the food smells. I'm just thrilled it is growing so well! The few lilac pinacles we have cut to bring inside this week, we are trying to root now. My grandmother had a powerful Green Thumb. We'll see if it was passed down to her granddaughter! *grin*

Fondly,
Penny

[Anina]

Penny, the lilac is beautiful. We had a big one like that at our previous home and it always smelled so great, especially around dusk.
Sounds like good things are happening in the studio. Can't wait to see the results.

[Lettie]

Hi Penny,
Your flowering lilac is just beatiful. I bet it's fragrance must be wonderful. I have never had the opportunity to see/smell one in person as I don't believe it grows here in Hawaii. I have to make a mental note to keep an eye out for it to see if it does. Love your beautiful porcelain tribute to the lilac too. Can't wait to hear about the excitement you have brewing over there. Have a fabulously crafty day!
Lettie