What’s Blooming {Lilac}

 A fresh cut bunch of these fragrant beauties sits atop my bookshelf table as I type; an uninhibited and slightly wild grouping of woody stems with purple blooms peeking out from the mass of leaves as nature intended (courtesy of my grandmother’s backyard).

Lilacs abound in New England for a brief but spectacular season in the Spring (usually early May).  They are a fast fading bloom, but very popular.  The flowers will usually last 3-5 days.  The trick to a longer bloom is to cut them when the tiny star-shaped flowers are just beginning to burst open and the majority are still just engorged buds.  Also, resist the urge to plop them into a pool of ice cold water and opt for lukewarm instead.  It will help them drink faster and stay hydrated longer.

Syringa, or Lilac, is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering woody plants in the olive family.  They are deciduous shrubs or small trees that explode with flowers in shades of purple, or in some varieties, white, pink, dark burgundy color or even pale yellow.

The Syringa vulgaris has a special place in the hearts of fellow New Hampshirites as our home’s official state flower.  They are "symbolic of that hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State" (New Hampshire Revised Statute Annotated (RSA) 3:5).

Every May the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain celebrates "Lilac Sunday".  During this celebration of Spring, the The Arboretum shows off its collection of over 400 lilac plants and opens the grounds for picnicking (the only day of the year it’s allowed).  Unfortunately the festival was held May 8th this year and we missed it.  I’ll have to settle for my bunch of blooms at home for now.

What’s Blooming {Tulips}

It’s raining.  Again.  It’s hard to stay positive when everything is so damp and dreary, I know.  I was at the flower market this morning and in a moment of weakness I caved and bought myself a bunch of these orange beauties.  Like you all, I too need a little color in my life these days.  Yes, I’m usually surrounded by vibrant blooms, but even I needed a little pick-me-up at on my desk this week. 

Few things are more beautiful than a simple bunch of tulips spilling out of a vase.  Groupings of the Dutch variety, the elegant long stems of French, or the ruffled petals of the Parrott, it doesn’t matter.  I love them all.  I take full advantage of their abundance while in season and it saddens me that they are quickly making their exit.

So, as an homage to their simple beauty, a post on the last of our spring bulbs in this series…

Tulips are perennial bulb plants with showy flowers found in a wide range of shades (basically anything other than true blue).  They belong to the family Liliaceae and are grown in gardens beds, containers, or for harvest as fresh-cut flowers. Depending on the species, tulip plants can range in height from as short as 4 inches to as high as 28 inches.  Strap shaped leaves with a waxy coating surround a single stem that usually produces only one flower per stem, though a few species bear multiple flowers. The showy, generally cup or star-shaped flower has three petals and three sepals, which are often termed tepals because they are nearly identical.

 

Enjoy them while they last!

Find the Newt! (again)

 So it turns out that there was no newt to be found in April’s edition of NH Magazine!  There is a very nice apology to those who strained their eyes looking for the little bugger last month and the magazine is offering up two prizes for those willing to give it another go in May.  You could win our lovely spring/summer door piece (below) as well as a year’s subscription!  For those of you without a current subscription, click here to find your local retailer.

 

Happy hunting!