Lilacs

I am wanting a more true blue syringa vulgaris, a lilac. I have seen photos of President Grevy and President Lincoln. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with growing a truer blue one. How about those above named varieties? Are they truly more blue than the common lavendar one?

Also is there a pink one?

Plenty of purple, pink, and white, but none that are blue.

Resin

Do you have a name for a pink variety?

Here's a couple that are supposed to be blue: 'Little Boy Blue' which is a dwarf type, and 'Wedgwood Blue'. Several pink varieties, including doubles, are also listed in Beaver Creek's catalog. http://www.beavercreeknursery.com

I think even the ones that say they are blue are really still lavender, they're just more bluish lavender than the ones they don't call blue.

But I have seen in a garden here locally both the lavendar the bluer side by side and there is one that definitely has more of a bluish cast though you are all correct when looked at in isolation it definitely still looks lavendar. I understand that but that in the garden I have seen I don't know what it is.
Waterman, thanks for the link to the nursery.

I would love to see pictures posted of everybody's lilacs.

dwight eisenhower is a nice blue one. i have several lilacs on order, from this company,
they seem to have the most variety.
http://spi.8m.com/lilacscatalogusa.html

the colors in lilacs to me are very confusing. there are several, and honestly some look red and are suppose to be blue etc.

I just spent some time there on your link, it is great. I never knew there are so many cultivars. What did you order, Len?

oh my, 49 plugs. They are a family organization and you have to be a little patient with them.lol. if you see my garden watchdog posting you will see we had quite a fiasco. but the guy is really nice and even sent me 2 one gal lilacs of my choice last fall, free. so i ordered last winter, haven't received yet. the 2 i planted last fall are going gangbusters this year. But they are in canada and have a late spring getting started.
early: angel white,sierra snow,betsy ross,clarke's giant,dark knight
mid:bridal memories,fiala remembrance,krasavitsa moskvy,mcmaster centennial,mme. lemoine,monique lemoine,albert holden,ami schott,duc de massa,dwight d. eisenhower,firmament,flower city,mechta,nadezhda,president lincoln,wedgewood blue,wonderblue,belle de nancy,yankee doodle
kum bum my free ones they sent last fall were mme. lemoine and sierra snow.
i guess i didn't get any late bloomers.

Wow, Len, you will have one gorgeous lilac garden someday. You must have some acreage to plant that many. Have you ever heard of this place before? It is called Mackinac Island and I read an article years ago in Victoria magazine about this island that has lots and lots of old lilacs. They don't allow any auto/cars there.
http://www.mackinacisland.org/lilacfestival.html

i have 6 1/2 acres, but will not get to spread around as i wanted. when i moved here a couple years ago i guess things were a little droughty, and these last couple have had real wet springs with standing water in some areas, i am flatground. so i will have to plant them on the pond bank and the back berm. there was a few old fashioned lilacs here but they flooded last year, although they are slowly starting to come back.
I've heard of mackinac island but never been there. I like lilacs, they seem to grow well for the most part in these parts, but there isn't that many varieties available, and i can't believe there is not a lilac forum. maybe that is the sign of a troublefree plant, i don't know.
did you find the ones you were looking for?

Sure did, but I hesitate from that far away and from Canada too. It is reasonable in price though especially that $7 for a plug.

Out here up north of me there is a Hulda Klager Lilac estate and I hope to get there again this spring. We should see bloom in a couple of weeks.

do they sell lilacs?

yes, they do but no internet or catalog sales as far as I know.
http://www.lilacgardens.com/

i've seen that site before, that's probably why the name sounded somewhat familiar.
that would be great if you could buy some when you go.

I went to Mackinac during the Lilac festival a few years back - it was beautiful. The place had a real distinctive smell of lilac mixed with a little fresh horse manure. Beautiful old lilacs, nice bike paths and great fudge - I'd recommend it! Peg

I read of a nursery in Kansas with acres of growing mature lilacs you can visit when in bloom to get an idea of size and colors but I can't find where I put the information. I would love to find a good blue and am looking for the darkest purple or maroon - anyone help on that? If I find the info on the Kansas grower/nursery I will post before I jump in my van for a road trip.LOL- seriously I am ready to just go this spring. Mackinac Island is sooo fantastic- Door Co. Wi. is great too.

Oh, I hope you find the Kansas site, that does sound really pretty. I hope to find blue too. Someday we will hear of this wonderful lilac place in Missouri. LOL I would love to visit Mackinac Island.