Mother's Day lilacs...
There is something about May mornings that brings about the
sweetness of the earth. Fresh air in open windows. Fresh dirt in the gardens.
Fresh flowers in the vase. Fresh birdsong. It has been a bit chilly to sleep
with the windows open, but I just pile on more blankets, so I don’t miss this
freshness.
With the coming of May, Mother’s Day greets all of us. I
know for some this is a very hard day of remembering or longing. My mother
passed two years ago, but I still have the joy of my three sons. Even though
two of my sons live far away, I hear their voices on the other side of the
phone wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day. Lucky for me Aaron and Rachel live here
so we can celebrate together. They always bring me a bouquet of lilacs…usually
from the farm. This year the weather has been a bit different, and the old-fashioned
lilacs are no longer blooming, so they found a bouquet of French lilacs. I love
seeing them come through the door carrying these flowers.
Years and years ago, when we first had the farm. I planted a
lilac bush. It was the first thing I actually planted. I knew old houses had
lilacs growing outside their back doors, along with the kitchen gardens. I did
not pay much attention to the history of the lilac or why it drew me in, but I
needed to plant it. Years later, when the farmhouse burnt to the ground, the
lilac bush was singed but recovered so that Aaron can usually pick bouquets
from that bush.
Most folks love lilacs and their scent. They completely fill
up a garden or a room. Let’s just look at the history of lilacs for a moment.
The lilac tree is actually native to Eastern Europe and Asia. When folks came to America in the
1700’s, these lilac trees were dug up and carried with them. I read a few
accounts that said that snippets of the trees were actually wrapped in paper
and sewn in the lining of coats and made the journey all the way across the
Atlantic safely. When arriving on American soil they were planted, as I said,
next to back doors and kitchen gardens. Of oourse, the settlers brought other
seeds and plants to their new home, their new country, but the lilac was one of
their favorites. Some historians feel they brought these lilacs because they
carried memories with them. They wanted to bring some of the Old World with
them, and the lilac was one of the easiest to bring. The very first record of
the first lilac was in 1750 at Governor Wentworth’s garden in New Hampshire.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both had lilacs in their gardens, so
these were not just for the commoner with a back yard garden.
I know my memory goes back to my grandmother’s lilacs. She
planted hers back by the rhubarb patch. In order to get to that patch, we had
to walk by the lilacs. Combining the scent of lilacs and rhubarb is something I
still like, and it always takes me back. We would sit their for hours devouring
her rhubarb dipping the stems into little tin cups of sugar. Of course, we were
sick all night, but at the time it didn’t matter. I always think of this when I
smell the lilacs too!
The lilac is also easy to cultivate and grow in rocky soil
or sandy soil or good garden soil. They can be watered or not watered and they
will still thrive. It is always amazing to me, and sad, to drive by old
homesteads where once a family lived and worked and gardened. The house is
usually gone or on its way out, but the lilac still stands as a reminder than
once upon a time family grew up there. These are the stories that capture my
heart.
I planted French lilacs on the side of this old house. I was
told that years ago, Aunt Daisy planted lilacs by the outhouse in my back yard.
Unfortunately, those were taken out years ago. I wish they were still here.
Lilacs can live to be a hundred years old.
My Mother’s Day bouquet won’t last long, I know that, but still,
they grace my house with beauty and color and scent. Most of all, I know they
were lovingly gathered by Aaron and Rachel for Mother’s Day.
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