As I mentioned on Sunday, two weeks ago Mom and I went to the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland, Washington, about 2 1/2 hours away. A gorgeous place with an interesting history which you can read about on the website.
We were surprised and thrilled to find so many types and colors of lilacs! White, yellow, blue, pink, purple and even…lilac! Here is a sampling of less than a third of the different ones we saw (inhaled).
Intoxicating does not really describe the fragrant air that floated and swirled all around the charming old-fashioned garden, the kind that makes you take big gulps of heavenly scent and hold them in tight as long as you can.
The Victorian farmhouse that Hulda Klager spent her live in is still on the property and open for tours.
Wonderful lilac arrangements were displayed around the porches.
They inspired me to create some of my own at home!
Go down to Kew in lilac-time, in lilac-time, in lilac-time;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn’t far from London!)
And you shall wander hand in hand with love in summer’s wonderland;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn’t far from London!)
– Alfred Noyes
Did you enjoy the tour? Thank you most kindly for your heartfelt comments on my Mother’s Day post – each were very touching and I gained a greater insight into mothers, children and the many forms that relationship can take. None is right or wrong – all that matters is that there is abundant love.
Have a sweetly scented day!
xo
–g
p. p. s. The varieties in the collage above are: Syringa vulgaris ‘Mme Lemoine’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Firmament’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Glory’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Adelaide Dunbar’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Primrose’, Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Pocohontas’, Syringa x chinensis ‘Lilac Sunday’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Mme Charles Souchet’, Syringa vulgaris ‘President Lincoln’, Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Maiden’s Blush’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Alice Christianson’, Syringa ‘Fritz Klager’, Syringa ‘Pink Ruth’, Syringa vulgaris ‘Peacock’
please note: floral background paper in lilac heart image © Brenda Walton
oh to live in a dream land like that! Thank you for transporting me, especially on a day that has started very dark outside and cold and raining! C x
oh, you are so lucky to have all this lilas around … I love its colours and perfums so much that you can find me stop the car, park and go and smell some lilas that is coming out from a house onto the street !!! and if I had scissors with me, I confess that I would cut some branches to bring home !! maybe one day I should try to see if the owners are in and just ask them :)
Beautiful and inspiring pictures, as always !Due to rain and cold days, my own poor Lilacs are wilting already. What a shame ! Inhale and appreciate the perfume as long as it lasts. I try to remember, as I read a post about a "true" Lilca perfume lately…. but I have a "senior moment" ( again)
kind regards, Martina
I enjoyed the tour very much! Now,I am looking forward to our lilacs blooming even more. The house looks pretty too-did you take a tour?
Now I am going to see Slyvia's lilacs too.
Take care,
Carolyn
Dear Georgianna,
Outstanding photography! Thanks for sharing your visit to the Klager Lilac Gardens. What I have noticed about lilacs is that their scent is strong and sweet but never overwhelming. I would have loved to have had the experience. Seeing your photographs is the next best thing.
I have several old lilac bushes on our property. We tucked our new house right into the middle of them. And I planted a new lilac, called "sensation" (you have it pictured in the middle of your collage) that I really love. It will be another week or so before they bloom.
P.S. How did you make the lilac heart? Each little blossom glued to a frame? Would love to know.
Such beautiful images! I've spent the past week photographing mine … I adore lilacs and wish they'd last longer than they do. But when they bloom there's just nothing like them. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous blooms and arrangements!
xo,
Lynda
Many thanks! Nathalie, I admit to keeping my secaturs in the car during this time of year and have cut lilac branches from bushes on vacant lots. It seems a shame for them to just be wasted.
Martina – you made me laugh – a senior moment! Mom says one of the most realistic lilac fragrances is Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs. But we'd love to hear the name of the one you read about when you think of it.
Gina, yes, the scent of lilac is so soothing. How lovely your house is in the middle of your lilacs! I am familiar with Sensation. We don't have it but I've photographed it for clients. Perhaps I should put the names of the lilacs above? I'd better.
As for the heart, I'm afraid that all I did was snip some blossoms and arrange them on floral paper for the photograph. However, I did see a craft project where blossoms were strung on thread and attached to a wire frame. But I'm sure they would only last a day.
– g
Oh good heavens — I find myself breathing deeply, as if I could smell them right through the computer screen! What incredibly lovely images, Georgianna. I would love to visit there some day. It must be an amazing and beautiful place!
xoxo
What a simply glorious post, I am so glad I found your Beautiful Blog.
Wow, these photos are stunning!!!
Your photos are always so soft with beauty I want to embrace them. I can almost smell them from here.
Brenda
Lilacs are such a treat. Your photos are so lush I can almost smell all those beautiful lilacs. That dark purple heart is one of the sweetest things I've seen in a while…
these photos are sooo dreamy! i LOVED the tour georgianna! my favorites were the lilac hearts and the lilac paired against colored paper!
Absolutely stunning post G!! I've always wanted to take a day trip to those gardens, and never have. Maybe next year:)
Thanks for the inspiration and the link to my post!!
Oh, this is just so lovely! I think lilacs are one of the most gorgeous blossoming bushes, the tiny flowers are so perfect. I love all of these arrangements you have shot, the heartshaped lilac wreath is just darling.
Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Moa xx
I'm so glad I found your blog! And I'm not one bit surprised to see that it is absolutely gorgeous!
What gorgeous photos! I have a decent slr camera, but don't know the first thing to do with it! I haven't had the courage to start playing around yet…but your photos are completely beautiful and inspiring, makes me wanna break out the books. Your lilacs are incredible.
Stacey
Oh how I love blog hopping…in visiting Carolyn at Aiken House I was brought here! Your work is absolutely stunning! I am just starting to play with my camera a little more….though I haven't a clue how to use most of the features. Thanks for the inspiration:)
Oh my goodness! What a beautiful tour! So glad you had such a lovely visit! Best wishes!
Lilacs are one of my mother's favorite flowers and it's a joy to see so many varieties…I never new there were so many! I think I'd like to come and sit on your lovely porch. I believe it's the porch I've always dreamed of.
ahhh, i've been completely in love with lilacs ever since my grandmother had a tree in her front yard, breathtaking pics :-)
oh WOW G!! this post is absolutely amazing!!! how i love love these gorgeous lilacs, what a beautiful place you visited :D you are one talented lady, you take such wonderful shots! i'm just having a quick peek at blogs this evening, but i couldn't resist commenting on this post it's just divine :) xxx
The peaks into your home were just lovely. Somehow I knew you would live in a dream. I have to tell you, that image with a few lilac buds and ribbon is shocking in its simple yet stunning beauty. My word!
It is wonderful how lilacs are so associated with mothers and grandmothers and great grandmothers!
Lovely to see everyone here!
Relyn, I have to admit that the Victorian house is not mine, but the one at the lilac garden. Sorry! I'll post some of ours before too long.
Oh gorgeous( i seem to use that word alot on your posts!) i think this is going to go near the top of my favourites of yours G.
I love Lilac. Our neighbour across the road has a small one and i took a couple of quick photos the other day. I was chuffed to make it across the road to do so. As not walked that far for a while.
I love the lilac heart you made, i may need to order that ;)
All the photos from the gardens are stunning, it is like seeing a glimpse of heaven, I cannot imagine going to a place as beautiful so i am grateful you shared your visit here with me
Love Kathryn x
lovely pictures! Could you share what kind of lilacs did you use to create the heart? I'm thinking about planting some lilacs in my garden and I love that shade or purple.
Thanks for visiting. I wish I could tell you what kind of lilac it is. I got it from a neighbor's bush so have no idea what it is. A good nursery catalogue might help? I'm sorry, I just don't know.
– g
You really make so beautiful photos!
I think you would love my garden too.
Our collection is now covering 400 varieties and I still falll
in love with every new one!
Would you like to post some on my blog?
Please continue!
With many best greetings for a lovely lilac-spring!
Elke
Thank you so much, Elke! Your collection looks absolutely amazing! I would love to post some – I’m traveling right now but will be in Europe for lilac season. Wishing you a beautiful spring, also!