Festival of Lilacs, May 2013

This year lilacs have captured my attention.  I have always had an appreciation for them, but never really acknowledged the subtle differences in the varieties.  From color, to fragrance, and bloom time, I have become enamored with this beautiful springtime plant.

My interests began early this spring when I discovered that my 8 year old lilac was about to bloom for the first time.  I had taken a cutting from an older, and more established shrub, and tended to this 8 inch little plant, until it grew too large for it's pot.  Not sure if I should plant it in the ground, I kept it in a large pot in my yard.  It always looked very healthy but never bloomed...until this year.

This sparked an interest in me.  Why had I never purchased a lilac from a nursery?  It was as if I was stubbornly waiting for my plant to mature into the plant that I knew it could be.  The history of this cutting was what was important to me, and not so much the acquiring of a flowering shrub for my yard.

So, with my interest piqued I decided to visit Willowwood Arboretum in Chester, New Jersey.  Willowwood is one of my favorite arboretums in the area, but I had never been there at the peak of lilac time.  They have a grassy lilac walk on the grounds, and have a lilac party annually, in celebration of this magnificent collection.

The first time that I visited this year, I was a bit early but got to see the flower buds about to burst open.  It had been a strange spring, with cold air and hot air battling for dominance.  It was early May.

The second time I visited, I discovered that the lilacs had opened a bit more, but seemed to have alternating bloom times, which offered an extended time period of interest.  It was a week later, and now a strong floral fragrance filled the air.  Some of the flowers smelled sugary like vanilla, while others were more potent, and flowery.  This combination of smells sent me back to the springtime of my childhood as I walked along the grassy paths, taking note of the different varieties, colors, and textures. 

 

 

When I unexpectedly went back to Willowwood for a third time this past week, I didn't really expect to see any lilacs still in bloom.  I was surprised to find different varieties now at the height of their bloom, and tree lilacs, which I hadn't even noticed before, still waiting patiently to open.  It was as if I was seeing everything differently each time I visited.

 

My lilac adventures this season were a lesson in patience, time, and subtle observation.  I learned about the complexities of these wonderful plants, beyond the fragrant purple flowers that we often see along the roadside.  

After my second visit, I went to the nursery and bought a Miss Kim lilac shrub and gave it a new home in my yard.    

Greenwood Gardens: A Journey into Wonderland

This past Sunday marked the public opening of Greenwood Gardens, a secret, historic, garden oasis in the suburban town of Short Hills, New Jersey.  I first found out about this event last weekend, when a family member discovered an article in the NY Times and insisted that I go.

Greenwood Gardens has had a long history, and has undergone many transformations over the years.  It houses an eclectic mix of Italian, French, Asian, Arts and Crafts, and Modern 1950's, garden styles, among many others.  It references a different period of time and garden design, truly allowing us to enter the space and become immersed in the atmosphere.  Until recently, it has been closed to the public while historians and gardeners work to restore the grounds.  There are elements of decay, and overgrowth that remain, allowing us to be aware that time is present here.  Whatever time that may be....

Since it was opening day on Sunday, admission was free and open to the public.  I knew that it would be crowded and expected to have some trouble parking.  When I got there, I discovered that they had arranged for shuttle buses to transport visitors from the parking lots into the garden.  

As the black iron gate opened, I had a strange feeling that I was about to enter a different world.  Suburban New Jersey is a place that I am very familiar with, but upon entering the property, I was transported to a different time forgetting about the world that I had left behind.  Rows of trees lined the long drive up to the house and at their bases, small white flowers looked like piles of snow in the green grass.  

The trees appeared to be parting for us as we approached.

When I got to the house which is the entrance to the garden, I really didn't know what to expect.  I entered the courtyard and took a look at the expansive view, of mountains, blooming and budding trees, and the various tiers of the garden.  The smell of lilacs blooming filled the air with an intensity that stayed with me even after I left. 

As I walked along the moss covered cobblestone walkways, and stairs, I was greeted around every corner by funny little stone chess piece characters.  Kings, queens, gnomes, horses, lining walls, standing proudly on stair ledges, each with their own degree of moss and vines covering them.  It seemed as if I had walked right into a fairy tale.  There were colorful tiles, a tea house, and a summer house, stone lions of every kind hidden in corners, a greyhound guarding an old grotto, and two proud Pegasus statues standing where an old pool used to be.  

Inside of the vaulted tea house was a combination of colorful seashell tiles, faces of what looked like art nouveau goddesses, moss covered stone, brick, and tile.  It was reminiscent of a shrine in a chapel, intended for special ceremonies.  Walking up the stairs to the second tier, I encountered mythical creatures in the form of green bronzed gargoyles that I swear were mocking me as I passed by.

One of the last things that I discovered as I wandered around the grounds, was an old overgrown circular pool.  Though the garden is still in the process of being restored, there was something beautiful about seeing it in a state like this.  It seemed as if I had traveled back in time, and had my own private view of this secret garden.  I am eager, however, to see it returned to it's original, functioning state.

Finally, I made my way back up and to the front of the property to explore the cottages, adorned with the same colorful tiles that are found throughout the gardens.

And with a sigh, I boarded the bus, to exit this fantastical world and return to reality, back to my car, in a school parking lot, in suburban New Jersey.

But I will be back...for sure.