The lilacs are not yet blooming in the DC area, but they soon will be. And if you're thinking of planting one, you'll want to consult this comprehensive new book by Naomi Slade with photos by Georgianna Lane.
LILACS Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden (Gibbs Smith, 2022) profile more than 60 varieties in all the lilac hues, along with a fascinating history of the plant and tips for growing and maintaining the shrubs.
Each entry has a description of the particular lilac's characteristics, including flowering time, parentage, and the best way to use it in the garden. And there's a photo of the blooms as well.
You'll find some of the old favorites here -- President Lincoln, President Grevy, Sensation, Pocahontas -- and some that will likely be harder to find. But no matter what, lilacs belong in almost any garden simple for their beauty and their sensational scent.
And ... if you're in Washington DC during the lilac season, you may want to visit Lilac Hill at the US National Arboretum. In recent years, they've developed several new cultivars, including Betsy Ross, Declaration and Old Glory -- all that have improved disease resistance and do quite well in warmer climates.
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