Mountain Lilacs

President Grevy Lilac ~ love the blue of this one.

Thunder and lightening rolled down off the mountains, sending myself and the Bad Dog scurrying for cover. So much for our weed pulling.

And, that's kind of disappointing because the new summer office hours kicked in today:

Up at noon, to work by one, an hour for lunch and then I'm done. 

Wouldn't that be grand??
Snow White's seven dwarves had the right idea...

Sensation Lilac ~ Love everything about this one :)

It's more like this:

Struggling to figure out where that noise is coming from at 5 a.m. And, then bashing the heck out of your alarm clock. Sleep walking to the kitchen. Staring off into space while the coffee pot percolates it's magical brew.

The real summer work hours are 6 a.m. to noon - then I come back to work late in the afternoon.

Mid-day is my time. Usually, it's spent putzing with the flower beds.

People accuse me of being a slacker for working in my gardens when a project is due (or, overdue) but pulling weeds involves your hands, not your brain.

It's a great Zen-y way to think through all the work problems that need to be tackled. When I sit back down in front of my computer, I generally have a good idea on how to fix them.

=^..^=

Over the holiday weekend, a friend of mine mentioned she'd hired a housekeeper. I imagine she was saying that because it looks like a bomb went off in my house and she thought I should clean up my act.

So, I did! Sort of. I hired a tote that barge and lift that bale teenage boy who cleans up the mess I make while weeding. Because, unlike other gardeners, who carry a bucket with them while weeding... I rip out the weeds and toss them over my shoulder.

Beauty of Moscow Lilac

I don't really mind that mess. It's visible progress on the bane of my existence: the grasses that work their way into the garden beds. But, my landscaper tenant just can't stand it! He's used to doing a neat and clean, professional job. He finally couldn't take it any longer, so he sacrificed volunteered his reluctant son for the clean up act. :)

Here's hoping you all had a wonderful, warm, adventure-filled holiday weekend.  

Mountain Lilacs:

When properly selected, Lilacs regularly outlive the gardener who plants them. And, they love, love, love the mountains. Any variety does well at 7,000 feet altitude.

Popular at 8,000 feet altitude

- Syringa x persica 'Persian' Lilac

Popular at 9,000 feet altitude

- Syringa x prestoniae 'Donald Wyman' Lilac

- Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' Lilac 

Popular at 10,000 feet altitude  

- Syringa x chinensis 'Chinese' Lilac

- Syringa vulgaris 'Common Purple' Lilac

- Syringa vulgaris alba 'Common White' Lilac

- S x prestoniae 'James MacFarlane' Lilac

- Syringa meyeri 'Korean Dwarf' Lilac

- Syringa x prestoniae 'Royalty' Lilac

Popular at 12,000 feet altitude

- Skiing and snowboarding on the 4th of July

* Give them lots of sun. Neutral soil. A wee bit o' horse poo works wonders! Prune right after blooming as they begin developing next year's buds asap.  Remove the oldest, least productive, branches to keep them looking lovely.

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