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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lilac Lane...

Are you wondering about the title of my post?  Maybe you're a tad curious to know what a lilac lane is.  Well, I actually don't have a lilac lane of my own, but my Great Aunt Ethel did.  It was located smack dab between her property and that of her long time neighbor of many, many years.   A nice elderly gentleman named Sam.  Sam would come to visit with my great aunt in her yard through the lilac bushes which separated both their backyards.  Although Ethel and Sam were just good friends, Aunt Ethel would affectionately call the foot worn path through the heart shape arches of the bushes "lilac lane." 

 
Aunt Ethel's lilac bushes were fragrant, mature and lush with purple flowers.   They were seasons old and left to be how Mother Nature intended them to be.  Tall, wide and wild with the aroma of their perfume.  My lone little lilac bush is but three years old.  These photos are of the first flowers I have enjoyed from my pretty purple bosket.   Although modest in its size, I was more than thrilled to see my own aromatic harbinger of spring finally bloom.

As you can see, I hardly have enough flowers on my small shrub to make my lilac the perennial show stopper that lilacs have become famous for.  There isn't even enough for a small centerpiece.  I just can't for-see my just barely established shrub propagating into my very own lilac lane.  But next year if I am lucky enough to be blessed with more flowers,  I will lovingly cut a  nostalgic bouquet, place it thoughtfully in a crystal vase and for a moment think of my Great Aunt Ethel and her "lilac lane."

41 comments:

  1. What a delightful, heart warming post. Thank you.

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  2. I LOVE lilacs! And what a wonderful story about Lilac Lane.

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  3. I love lilac, we used to have a few bushes in the garden of our first house, but sadly none here. It always makes me feel nostalgic too!
    xxx

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  4. I adore lilac trees, they are the only tree I will actually stop at if I pass one, to smell and admire. I love the idea of a lilac lane, I must tell The Viking to start planting!!

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  5. I too love lilacs and what a poignant and heart felt post. Amazing what small things can bring back the happiest memories.

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  6. Lilac Lane sounds beautiful. They smell so heavenly!

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  7. Very nice! I'm sure Aunt Ethel would love the bouquet on your table! I inherited three very mature bushes when I moved into this house, I do enjoy them:@)

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  8. I LOVE the name! And what a wonderful story of your memory of Lilac Lane. Our lilac lane bloomed way back at the beginning of April but only lasted a couple of weeks if that. The lane wasn't covered with as many blossoms this year as we had a late frost just before the blooms opened...but it was still wonderful being able to breathe in that heavenly scent. Hopefully next year will be better for us and it will certainly be a better year for you as your shrub grows to maturity. Enjoy it while you can!
    Maura :)

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  9. Very sweet story! Soon enough you'll have plenty of them. I love lilacs!

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  10. I had a lilac lane! I just never knew what to call it. Living in Florida for most of the year I don't have lilacs. By the time we get up north they are gone. However, when I lived in Maine I had lots and i especially loved the one under the bedroom window. Loved the story of Aunt Ethel!

    Carol

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  11. What a sweet memory! Lilacs are my favorite!

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  12. Sweet story. My grandma had a hug lilac bush in her backyard. Love the scent.

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  13. Such a sweet story. I love lilacs. My tree is nowhere near close to blooming. The smell is so comforting - I can't wait.

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  14. Beautiful! Funny how certain things can pull at our heartstrings... for me it's Calla Lillys and my grandmother, they get me every time.

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  15. Lilacs are one of my favorite Spring shows! What a lovely story, I'm sure your Aunt Ethel would be please to know that you enjoy your lilacs as much as she did. You've started a family tradition, which can be passed on to your daughter, sons, nieces, and nephews!

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  16. I love Lilacs so much but have had such trouble growing them. I even love that they have heart shaped leaves. I should maybe try again to grow some. I love the story of Lilac Lane. I always want to remark about your picture of Sleepy Hollow, it is one of the places on my list to visit. It made me so happy to see that picture.
    I hope you have had a lovely weekend,

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  17. There is nothing more wonderful than a good, trusted neighbor. Except lilacs!
    xx
    julie

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  18. What a lovely memory to go along with your beautiful lilac bush. It may be small but is big on sentimentality. Best wishes, Tammy

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  19. nice memory! and your lilac look absolutely nice! x gloria

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  20. Oh what a sweet story! I hope next year you have so many blooms to enjoy and remember her with! :)

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  21. I love lilacs, we have many here at this old house.. ancient bushes full of blooms right now. They don't last long enough.

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  22. Sweet story. Lilacs don't grow here. I make do with T%exas Lilac or Vitex. It has pretty purple blooms minus the lovely scent.
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  23. thank you to both you and great aunt ethel for making my sunday morning so divinely sweet...i swear a breeze allows me to savor the smell all the way to here...(the beauty of memory...)
    -xok.

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  24. Those Lilac trees are so beautiful but I doubt if they would grow in my backyard...we have so much fog during the Summer...

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  25. What a dear post. I am sure not only the lilacs themselves remind you of Aunt Ethel, but also the sweet delicate fragrance of the lilac. If your tree is now in bloom, mine should not be far behind! There is hope. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Julie.

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  26. Oh, I love lilacs. Hope yours continues to grow and grow. Wish I had a yardful of lilacs. Hope I can find someone to give me some. Susan

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  27. I love lilacs! I have one. Last year it bloomed for the first time. Beautiful large blooms. This year...not one.

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  28. Lilacs must be the most beautiful fragrant flower in the world! All our blooms have already gone here in the UK, such a brief flowering time! I would love to walk down Lilac Lane, I imagine it smelt heavenly! xxx

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  29. Lilac lane has such a sweet romantic sound ... and what a nice post! I'm so happy that our lilacs will bloom within a week or so ... if it ever really warms up! Yours are just lovely!

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  30. So pretty... our lilacs here in Virginia were almost non-existent this year. Don't know what happened, but I missed seeing them. Yours are lovely.

    DI

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  31. All flowers should smell as nice as lilacs. My daughter and I planted three bushes last week. I want blooms NOW! Nancy H

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  32. Beautiful memories; I love the smell and the look of lilacs.
    My boys knew that and one day a long time ago, the decided to bring me a bouquet from this (crabby) neighbour.
    I was so thrilled, intil the lady arrived at the door and threatened to call the police if I didn't give her back the lilacs.
    Some poeple know how to spoil little pleasures; they still talk about their little escapade.
    Rita

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  33. This memorty of your grandmother is so lovely. Lilacs are especially beautiful and so fragrant. I have a lilac shrub in a large flower pot as my urban backyard does not have any dirt, so it was the only way I could grow one! I get about three beautiful bunches of lilacs every spring. Just enough to enjoy them.

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  34. how pretty it this? lilacs are my mom's favorite and they always smells so lovely.

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  35. That's so funny....I have ALWAYS wanted a Lilac Lane, so when we moved out here 5 years ago that was the first thing I did. I planted lilacs coming up the driveway! So far....I'm still waiting for the glorious Lane;))

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  36. I can't say honestly that I have ever really seen lilacs. I am suddenly feeling very deprived, these are beautiful.

    Velva

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  37. So glad I did not miss this lovely post. It was really a sweet story about your Aunt and Sam. I loved reading it.
    These Lilacs are beautiful I wish I had a Lilac Lane. But I am glad that you will someday
    Hope your having a great week
    Love
    Maggie

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  38. i LOVED this...what a sweet post...the pictures are just beautiful...

    ~~~ lovely...

    happy to visit today,
    sending love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  39. I love lilacs so much. They remind me of my mother's house. So beautiful!

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  40. Now I want lilacs!
    I am very easily influenced!

    This was a lovely post about wonderful memories.

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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  41. What a lovely story to share with your lilac photos.

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