I am SO pleased to share with you the first photos of my lilac blossoms! When I was a child, we had a lilac hedge all along the yard - in South Dakota. I have planted 10 Syringa lilacs along the back fence, and six Blue Skies lilacs along the north side. Wow! I am SO happy the hybridizers have created a lilac for Texas!
This one is "Blue Skies" - the one above is Syringa
And as a bonus - here's a shot of one of my lovely tulips among the hyacinths. I've never grown either before, and am SO enjoying them!
Well, in the thumbnail I THOUGHT it was a tulip! How about Aztec Silver ??? verbena... sorry, the name escapes me at the moment.
Mary--
Those are really nice! Keep us posted on how they survive the summer; they would be great for the shade down here.
Debbie
They are beautiful. Do they have a strong scen?. I also grew up with a huge lilac bush infront of our home in Montreal. Every May, our family would cut them and my sister and I would deliver them to our friends.
Just beautiful. I understand the draw to these, as I had them too as a kid in the Boston area. I would fill the house will the bouquets. Have they been planted for many summers? Just wondering how they fare in the heat of the summer, during the drought last year. Did you have to baby them with extra watering, above what the lawn and garden regularly needs?
I just planted them last fall... so can't report on summer yet. And yes they do have that lovely, lilac scent! I planted ten along the back fence and six more up one side of the yard. I'm very excited to see how they do.
Mary great job!!! Congratulations, I hope they make it through the winter just fine.
Josephine.
These are on my gotta have list. Where did you get them?
Winter was absolutely NO problem. They even tried to bloom around the time we were having the freezes! They are looking SO healthy - the test will come this summer - but I am expecting great results, as they were specifically bred for Texas. I got them from Wayside Gardens, Bloomlover: www.waysidegardens.com
Gosh, I was hoping that you had gotten them locally. Has anyone seen them in the DFW area? I could make a special trip to get them.
Well, Bloomlover, I imagine you could also root them from cuttings. Feel free to come by and take a few cuttings.
mary
I wish I were closer to Grand Prairie. I may have to take you up on the offer tho. I could make it a day trip and look at nurseries too! Sounding pretty good...
There is a great nursery close to here - called Petal Pushers. It is located in Cedar Hill and was recently written up in Southern Living.
Is that the one that use to be Redenta's. I found it one day when we came to Cedar Hill to shop. We crossed the highway and went back down what ever that road is and found it sort of hidden.
I love lilacs, but have killed so many, both here and in the SF Bay Area of California that I'm rather shy about buying some more.
Mary, where did you get the information about being bred for Texas? Wayside's description says that Big Skies is a California introduction. I'm so tempted! Please keep us posted on how they fare this summer.
Bloomlover - it is on Straus road, just off of 1382. I really don't know the history, as the shop is new to me. I just discovered it.
Well, Bettydee, when I said "bred for Texas" I just mean bred for the warmer zones. But I'll tell you this: I take it as a personal favor that it has been bred! I am envisioning large lilac bushes by next spring.
I lived in the Boston area as well...and really miss the lilacs..! I'd love to have one here as well....Sounds lovely... :)
Melanie
I'm marking this thread as "watch". Please let us know how they do later. 'Cuz if they do good, there's gonna be a run on them!! California doesn't necessarily translate to Texas. I can only hope....
Petal Pushers has been in Cedar Hill for many years.....formerly Kings Creek Nursery. After Cedar Hill got so big Redenta's bought it for a short time. The ladies there have been there almost from the start. The name has changed but the wealth of knowledge is still the same. They are only organic which suits me fine. Well worth a trip from anywhere. also, only native plants so you don't have to worry about babying anything. It will make through all of the extemes of Dallas County weather. I am only about 8 miles from them so I really have an advantage. Even visit in the worst cold/hot weather to see what they have that is living through whatever.
Have lived in Dallas County all my life and this house for over 40 years. Only in last 3 years have I given up trying to grow anything that is not native. What a relief. Now my flower garden is beautiful.....cannot fight nature with any longterm success.
God is good EVERYDAY.
Louc
Lovely garden LouC, keep up the good work.
Josephine.
That is the one I was thinking about. I haven't been there this year and I am terrible with road names. It is one that I will have to come into town to visit. Lou, are there any others close by that I could go to while I am there? I hate to drive 50 or so miles for just one nursery. However, I can here all the shops by Lowes calling to me also.
I hear thunder, could it be raining in the next little bit? Sure hope so.
Kim
I think Weston Gardens is not that far from there, although I have never been to Cedar Hill. It is also off I-20 on the the FortWorth side.I like this center,just wouldn't go if they were having an event because it gets picked over. Hyperlink:westongardens.com
:o( Still don't know how to Hyperlink................I keep getting their email. Wow! This is harder than digging up clay!
This message was edited Mar 23, 2007 8:06 AM
This message was edited Mar 23, 2007 8:15 AM
I think I figured it out..of course not before messing up the toolbar. http://www.westongardens.com/
Weston Gardens is definitely now on my "must see" list! Wow! I am so impressed. Looking at some of their articles and photos is causing me to rethink my plans for the rest of the yard! I do believe I will "go native".
I am glad you like it. It was worth it to do that hyperlink.If you are looking for something special, they will hold it for you with a creditcard.
Just checked the Weston Gardens website again. These pictures don't represent anything that I saw when I was there. Never been so disappointed. Tried a second visit and it was such a mess from the car that we didn't even get out. Most of this exists in someone's imagination. Hope I don't get in trouble for slander but the truth is truth.
Also don't know how to do a hyperlink:www.petalpushersgarden.net
Everything you see in the pictures here is what is actually looks like. Their website gives a very good map.
LouC, a lot depends on the time of year that you choose to visit, they do have a lot of special features, but many of them are not visible from the road, they have to give you the tour.
I do find their prices a bit on the high side, but if you find what you want, sometimes it is worth it.
Weston's is starting to get closer to those imagination pictures.When were you last there? I guess when I go there I don't have expectations of the way it looks. I usually like to go to one of the lectures or I call ahead to hold something that is hard to find. I have learned alot from them! Yes, that road is awful.
Well, I went to visit Mary this afternoon and she has quite a production going on. Almost all of her front yard is flower beds with lots of beautiful blooms, and her backyard as well with many beds for flowers and vegetables.
Her lilacs are indeed lovely with a very sweet scent, and very healthy.
I was very impressed, and very happy to meet her and her husband.
Josephine.
Well, rats! I'm too far south! Rats!
The other two purple blooms are giant hyacinths...I had them all over in Colorado...unfortunately they need that chilling in the winter that you can only get up north...but they do smell wonderful. I will definitely watch for the success of the lilac's though...I planted wisteria last year as someone told me that was the closest I could get to lilac's here in Houston...
This message was edited Mar 27, 2007 10:10 AM
Virg - Have you tried Texas Mountain Laurel? Beautiful purple blooms and smells like grape Kool Aid.
Not yet ceejaytown. I am still in that huge learning curve when it comes to what to plant where and when....I will get it right eventually....thanks for the info..
The sooner the better. They are truly awesome. I am so enjoying mine right now.
