I planted this lilac bush several years ago and it’s been growing steadily. I find it’s impossible to get a good photo of it, but I will say we have more blooms this year than ever before. I took the advice written in a comment here a few years back; cut off the dead blooms sometime in June and the bush will bloom profusely the next year. It’s actually taller than it looks here, but I was shooting uphill.
And so starts my daily visit to the bush, stopping to inhale that incredible scent.
Oh my heavens.
I took a trip to the nursery yesterday – foolish me. It’s the weekend and I knew better. We live in an area where city dwellers have weekend homes. So…the weekend brings an influx of people and on a gorgeous day like yesterday, a place like the nursery is flooded with people, ready to beautify their properties. Nevertheless, I was there, so I bought a few things; some topsoil, some more geraniums, some more lobelia to fill another pot. My hanging plants are not in yet, darn it! Now I’m afraid they didn’t order them, but truth be told, I think that this delay is normal – they aren’t in stock until the first or second week of May.
I wasn’t going to drop by the antique barn, but the traffic was so heavy, that it was easier to turn in that direction and I was able to get a parking space, so I stopped in. The antique barn is in a complex with other shops and it was crowded there, too. As was the barn. I walked through both floors and was intrigued by some items, but not enough to buy them. I stopped in my friend Sidney’s space, which is always lovely (that’s where I found the egg cup cubby.) She has such a great eye. There’s a photo of her space in my IG Stories. Sidney has recently moved to New Hampshire and spends most of her time there, so she is only going to have a booth in one space, which is another antique shop that I frequent. Though I’ll miss her at the antique barn, I’m glad she will remain at the other shop, where she has more square footage.
When I got back, I potted the flowers – again, in the wind – and cleaned up the porch. I swear, every day becomes windy lately, and pollen is everywhere.
Today, our big event will be stopping by the post office, the little hardware shop in town, and grocery shopping. And getting gas. (Don’t be jealous.)
I’ve started The Cutting Place, a mystery by Jane Casey, an excellent author. She writes police procedurals.
Don and Dan are working on an album – their new name is All the Way to Redding, which celebrates their long distance collaboration. Dan lives in Redding, CT. Anyway, I’m quite enamored of one of their newest endeavors, a piece called Starry Eyed in Nova Scotia. If you’re interested, here is the link. Words and music by Don; Vocals, ukelele, guitar – Don; bass and lap steel – Dan; produced, arranged and mixed by Dan. And the cover art is by our friend Jeff McCarthy. Jeff is a well known actor and he’s also a wonderful artist. When Don told him what he envisioned for the album cover, Jeff created a wonderful painting. Side note: Don knows Jeff because they were in a production of The Front Page together. I worked with Jeff several years before at the Huntington Theater in a production of Arms and the Man. Theater is a small world.
Okay. Have to get going.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Please pass on a thank you to Don and Dan. The song touched me in an unexpectedly sentimental way – my family is from Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Island) and it is truly a laid-back, beautiful corner of the world. Hope to be back soon.
Have a great day
Anne
I passed your comment on to Don and he was so pleased, Anne. Thank you so much!
Stay safe.
I miss the scent of lilac. I can almost imagine it. Did you ever read the Scent Keeper? Good story, not great, and I learned a lot about scent that I never thought of.
I didn’t. I’ll have to look for it, Kay. Wish I could send you some lilacs!
Stay safe.
Your lilac bush is amazing. Its too hot here to grow one successfully but a friend of mine from up north tried. She would get a few blooms but the fragrance… magic!
The fragrance is incredible.
Stay safe, Linda!
You have beautiful color in your garden again and the lilac is just heavenly; if only I could inhale some of it!
Lilacs and peonies are my favorite flowers for scent. Heavenly.
Stay safe, Vicki.
Hi Claudia, your lilac bush is beautiful! Glad you were able to get a few things on your nursery trip. I am heading out to a couple local ones in a couple days. Going to ones here on the weekends is not a good plan either. Wonderful you had a stop at the antique barn. We are in full lockdown here so nothing like that is open. I do miss seeing antiques! I LOVE Don and Dan’s new song. I think they really have caught the essence of Nova Scotia. We lived there for four years. As we get closer to retirement we are thinking of settling back there. There is something about it…..
Have a good day!❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words, Robin! I’ll pass them on to Don.
Stay safe.
Claudia — jealous of your lilac — our bushes were looking good then that 2-3 in snow beginning of Apr along with the freeze put an end to blooming this year — miraculously, we have 3 or 4 sprigs that survived — just to remind us of the scent!! I have the feeling this summer will be very bad w/traffic, crowds — seems like people are so over being cautious around here — my trips are extremely limited to say the least — essential only. stay safe, healthy. best of luck to Don with his latest project.
Oh, those unexpected snows! Darn it.
Stay safe, Linda.
That lilac! WOW! I hadn’t heard that blossom removal trick — I’ll have to tell my neighbor from whose tree I benefit greatly!
I’m glad they are doing an album. I’ll listen — I’ve liked all the other songs so much.
And I’m glad you were able to not have to bail at the nursery and even get a stop at the antique barn. It sounds like such a good day out after so many in!
It was, though the crowds made me a bit nervous!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Lilacs. I remember picking bunches and filling the house with that clean scent. We had so many flowers when we lived in my grandparents home. I remember the lilly of the valley and Lilacs and climbing roses. All a memory now. . I bought my hanging plants over a week ago and am nursing them thru this windy spring. Cleaned the yard and cleaning off the pollen that covers everything on the back porch and car. My husband finally found another sailboat and is in the process of getting it to our side of the Long Island Sound. I am not a sailor but due to the self quarantine and isolation of this past year plan on joining him as much as possible enjoying some sunsets on the water. I just wish I hadn’t binged on all the sailing disaster movies all winter. I look forward to hearing Don and Dan latest. Such talent at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
My dad had a sailboat for a time and we used to go sailing on Lake Erie. Such a peaceful, beautiful experience. Enjoy!
Stay safe, Maria.
Your lilac is gorgeous. I can just imagine the scent. Guess I’ll just have to sniff my neighbors.
As a general rule we stay away from grocery stores, and big box stores on the weekend, unless it’s an emergency. That includes nurseries and antique malls too. That’s the nice part of bring retired…we don’t have to use the weekends to run errands.
Glad you found a few more plants. I’m still wheeling mine in and out. We’re supposed to get to 37 a couple nights this week, and here in the marsh, that’ll be near freezing.
I’m looking forward to listening to Don’s new song. Enjoy your day! ;)
I knew better but I did it anyway!
We’re getting some cooler nighttime temps this week, as well. I was about to take the fern outside, but I think I’ll wait until the end of the week.
Stay safe, Donna.
Your lilacs are lovely. I only have 4 blooms this year so I am marking my calendar to trim in June. I think I trimmed at the wrong time last year!
I grew up in Lombard, Illinois better known as “Lilac Town” as it is the home to “Lilacia Park” filled with many, many varieties of lilacs from around the world. It is not far from where I live now and my sister and I will visit on Wednesday this week as “Lilac Festival” is going on now . The smell of lilacs always takes me back to my childhood home. Thanks, Claudia!
How lovely! Imagine all the wonderful scent wafting in the air!
Stay safe, Ellen.
That Lilac! Do you have hummingbirds visiting it?
I think it’s too early for hummingbirds here. Besides, it’s on the far side of the front lawn so I wouldn’t really see them unless I happened to be nearby.
Stay safe, Kelly!
glad you found plants and could enjoy some gardening in spite of the pollen and wind.
too bad you didn’t find a treat there, but maybe the trip to the antique store was itself the treat.
thanks for sharing the link to don’s new song. please send my thanks to don and dan for releasing another song and album. it’s beautiful in words and music and “all the stars are in our reach” just made me cry … in a good and hopeful way.
the lilac bush looks great … and i know its scent is better than that (one of my favorite scents, all year long). enjoy!
supposed to have rain today. i don’t consider five minutes of sprinkles sufficient to be called “rain”, but we’ll take it.
no “big news” here yet, but something will happen with my former boss having said he plans to retire by july 01. i’ve talked with him and my current boss (separately) about it and most of what they told me is the opposite of what the other one said … and one complains about the other to me. sad to say, but i don’t trust either one. will keep you posted when there’s a decision or change.
i definitely have a ways to go, but think physical therapy and using that soft brace are finally helping … i feel a bit more ease in moving around, walking and sleeping. :)
hope you all are having a nice night. stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Thank you so much for your kind words Kathy. I’ll pass them on to Don.
I’m so happy to hear that the brace and physical therapy are helping you. That’s wonderful news!
Stay safe.
Your lilac is beautiful…I’m still waiting for mine to have leaves. It will be awhile before it blooms. I just love the fragrance of lilac.
Thank you for sharing Don’s song with us. I loved the words and harmonies. Nova Scotia is a gorgeous place that is warm and welcoming. Don and Dan have captured that perfectly. I’m a fan!
I’m so happy to hear you liked the song, Carol. I will pass your praise on to Dan and Don.
Stay safe!
Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome!
Stay safe, Nora.