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April 09, 2009

Lilac Sighting ATL

The cool freakishly cold weather we've been having has been a blessing to the rare lilac bushes one occasionally stumbles upon in Atlanta.  I have been known to slam on the brakes and then ring doorbells for permission to "sniff" a lilac bush in Spring. My children are appalled.  Those who lust for lilacs will understand.

Zone 7 is just not hospitable to lilacs. They tolerate Zone 2 in the northern reaches of New England, (think Robert Frost..."when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed...") but Zones 3-6 are the best. Atlanta's Zone 7 is really pushing it. The lilacs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden have no smell at all -- I believe they are hybrids.  Pretty, but missing that essential heavenly scent.

Well, I found a lilac bush today along the fence in the parking lot behind Mary Macs Tearoom.  Real lilacs, nice red-purple color, with a real scent.  I stood there sniffing and smiling, wondering how my lilacs are doing in all my former homes up north. 

Posted at 07:30 AM in Atlanta, Atlanta Neighborhoods, Environment, Spirit |

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