Spring Splendor

I am thinking of the lilac-trees, That shook their purple plumes, And when the sash was open, Shed their fragrance through the room. ~ Anna S. Stephens, The Old Apple-Tree Old white farm house/ Hanover, Illinois (USA) Challenge Winner! (Country Bumpkin) Springtime in the Countryside Featured in FARM and COUNTRY Featured in EXPLORING AMERICA Featured in MIDWESTERN US PHOTOGRAPHY Featured in A COUNTRY ROAD and COUNTRY VIEWS 40 views/ 12 faves ======== In my mind, there is nothing more quintessentially “Midwest America” than lilac trees in bloom in spring: grand, old ragged lilacs ,some of which were blossoming before the Civil War. When I was a kid in the Chicago suburbs, they were everywhere. Even in the heart of the city, you could walk down side-streets nearly swooning from the sweet perfume, a scent as strong as incense made all the more delectable by peonies, lilies of the valley and catalpa trees, all blossoming in unison. In portions of the city, such delights remain today. Sadly, in the suburbs, what they call “commercial landscape” has replaced the older, native growth depriving neighborhoods of all their grace and magic; geometric rows of marigolds and crew cut bushes simply can’t compare, as far as I'm concerned! In rural territory though, the fragrant monarchs still stand proud and purple (and/or pink, or white, or burgundy), many lining country roads, some shading farm-homes, others settled peacefully in flower-strewn yards in time-lost little towns. Although they do grow in California and the west, they just don’t smell the same. To produce their most delicious scent, lilacs need a solid freeze in wintertime. Here in the Heartland, old-growth lilacs usually have a history. In the old days, lilacs were of such importance to the women of the day that clippings were carefully removed from homes in cities in the east, to be carried westward via covered wagon. (How they did this, is beyond me! I have enough trouble starting clippings as it is.) It was customary up into the early 1900’s, to present a lilac seedling as a gift when someone moved or built a house, the theory being that “a house without a lilac couldn’t be a home.” They were also widely used as memorials so that any large, old lilac tree you come across here in mid-America was probably planted there in memory of someone’s dear departed in another age. Sweet perfume ~ glorious colors ~ nostalgic memories and secrets. What more can you ask?? These are on a horse-ranch in Hanover, Illinois (northwest corner of the state). The dandelions are pretty too! Canon Rebel XTi (From the archives, taken when we lived just down the road. Too early yet for dandelions or lilacs here/ typically the show begins in May)

Also available on

All Over Print Tote Bag

Looking for something different?

Search below.

Related Tags

Stickers Tags

This section provides a collection of tags that relate to the Sticker on this page. These tags each link to a search for the Stickers that relate to the tag.