These lilacs are from cuttings that my mother brought to me from my Nana’s old farmhouse in New Hampshire.
I planted them in my yard in New Jersey, and dug them back up when I moved to my current house in New York.
I planted them in my yard in New Jersey, and dug them back up when I moved to my current house in New York.
Every Spring their scent brings back visceral memories of my Nana, and makes me long for my own mother, who still lives in NH.
The family that bought my Nana’s farmhouse after she died let it fall into disrepair, and it breaks all of our hearts. And yet, the lilacs remain.
So this bouquet is for her, Dorothy Belle Kelly Patch, and for my mother, Adrienne Gloria Patch Dugal, two amazingly strong, creative, talented, loving, generous women, who continue to inspire me every day, but especially when I smell the Mother’s Day lilacs.
Oh, Elizabeth, they are gorgeous! If only scent-o-vision could be…
Scent is such a powerful memory trigger… thanks for sharing yours.
Here in Rochester, it’s Lilac Festival week: http://www.nowpublic.com/style/lilac-festival-2009-rochester-ny-blossoms-next-10-days — wanna come visit?
AmpleHugs,
-Anne
Wow, you have blooms already? You can just see the buds on ours.
I think I can smell yours from here. LOL