Lilac Legacy

Devote 3 years to establishing Lilacs and they'll outlive your great, great grandchildren.

Been running around like that proverbial farm animal with her head lopped off. Test driving horses, hardening off seedlings,* making up all sorts of excuses not to weed the garden.

Sweet reason to keep a fragrant bouquet of Lilacs by your bedside: Cutting off ALL the blossoms EVERY year improves next year's flower power.

I'm quite delighted that it's finally and officially Memorial weekend. While Mother Nature undoubtedly has another trick up her sleeve, I can start digging in the dirt and celebrating this most wonderful time of year.

When everything is a distinct possibility.

Passion can only take you so far.

At some point, the giddy excitement that comes with big landscaping ideas must turn into the harsh reality of back-breaking labor.

And, THAT is why neighbors were invented.

You see, I happen to own a very big rototiller and it works a lot like a 'Free Beer!' sign. All I have to do is park that magic machine in the yard and some unsuspecting neighbor says, Hey! What are you doing? Need some help?

Too tall? Prune them back. Removing the oldest stems ~ down to the ground ~ encourages new stem growth and more flowers blooming at optimum (i.e nose!) level.

It's an indisputable fact. Hard work hardly ever wears me out. Provided I've suckered someone else into handling most of that manual labor. :)

* Hardening off seedlings: set your babies outdoors for at least a week or two before placing them in the ground. Everyone feels discombobulated after a move. This transition helps them get used to long hours in the sun and cool night temps.

** Or! You could just throw them to the wolves and hope for the best. That's what I tend to do...

** Here's a list of hearty Lilacs for the highest of mountain gardeners.