When you choose a lilac you are planting a shrub that is part of our American heritage – some have even called the lilac the “apple pie of shrubs.” Thomas Jefferson planted lilacs at Monticello and lilacs greeted guests as they entered George Washington’s flower garden at Mount Vernon. Poet Walt Whitman’s elegy to Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” evokes an image of a lilac bush that may be familiar to many:
In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle – and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.
French and Dutch colonist first introduced lilacs to the United States, carrying them during their long journeys across the Atlantic Ocean. Lilacs soon found themselves all over North America, arriving by saddlebags and coach. Today there are over 2,000 named varieties of lilacs thanks to many industrious and passionate breeders all over the world. Our feature plant this week is the Dwarf Korean Lilac – the most useful of all the lilacs, and Alan’s favorite of all the shrubs we grow. It is easy to grow and maintain, making a beautiful and welcome addition to your garden.
The Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri Pablibin)
The Dwarf Korean Lilacs’ parent, the Syringa meyeri, is named after Frank Meyer who discovered it in a garden in Beijing, China in 1909 and sent cuttings home to the United States. Many lilacs are offspring of the Syringa meyeri, but the palabin Dwarf Korean Lilac is the smallest and most delightful. The clean, dark green foliage provides the perfect backdrop for the exquisite powerfully fragrant, lavender pink florets that will cover the dense bush from head to toe. Expect it to bloom in May-June, with lighter rebloom in later summer and fall, extending the season and allowing you to enjoy its beauty and fragrance twice during the year. Foliage turns bright yellow in autumn.
Unlike other common lilacs, the Dwarf Korean Lilac blooms profusely at an early age and is not susceptible to powdery mildew. Expect it to grow four to five feet high and wide, the perfect size for a perennial border, foundation planting or shrub border foreground. No matter where the Dwarf Korean Lilac is planted in your garden, it is sure to be a standout year after year.
Planting and Care
The Dwarf Korean Lilac is one tough plant, a real survivor. Over ten years ago we planted some in wooden planter boxes that were fabricated over a black top parking lot in full sun. These planter boxes never get any supplemental water, only what mother nature provides. Every year the lilacs bloom profusely, hold their leaves all summer without browning, rebloom in the fall and never suffer any winter die back. After the drought of 2002, I expected the lilacs to be totally dead. When I drove by in the spring of 2003 they were in full bloom, just as they have been every year.
Click here to view the Dwarf Korean Lilac on the Carroll Gardens website.
Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc, has over 30 years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll Gardens one of America’s preeminent nurseries, having introduced more than 20 new perennials and woody shrubs over the years and reintroduced numerous “lost” cultivars back to American gardeners.
Carroll Gardens publishes a weekly online newsletter written by Alan. It contains valuable gardening advice and tips and answers to customer questions.
Every Saturday, Alan hosts a call-in gardening forum on WCBM radio – 680 AM. For those outside of the WCBM listening area, they can listen to radio show via the internet.
Visit CarrollGardens.com to learn more about Carroll Gardens, the weekly newsletter and the radio show. http://www.CarrollGardens.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Summers
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COACH MAEVE 1024 Eyeglasses (516) Lilac – 50 mm [Apparel] $152.99 Coach eyeglasses are an American classic, maintaining the same rigorous standards of craftsmanship since their founding. Each Coach eyeglass frame is designed with classic styling and modern, elegant details that complement any wardrobe. This timeless look, with a twist, is a head-turner. All Coach eyeglasses provide unmatched quality, comfort and durability… |
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COACH MOIRA 1010 Eyeglasses (516) Lilac – 47 mm [Apparel] $152.99 Coach eyeglasses are an American classic, maintaining the same rigorous standards of craftsmanship since their founding. Each Coach eyeglass frame is designed with classic styling and modern, elegant details that complement any wardrobe. This timeless look, with a twist, is a head-turner. All Coach eyeglasses provide unmatched quality, comfort and durability… |
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AUTHENTIC COACH PENELOPE LEATHER HOBO 13159 (Lilac) $215.00 Flattering and understated, this Coach Penelope mediuml hobo is the perfect shoulder bag for your Coach collection. Retail $328+tax. Measures approx. 11.5 inch H x 8 inch W x 3 inch D ~Guaranteed Authentic Coach~… |
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Coach Patent Embossed Leather Wristlet F43639 (SV/Lilac) $89.97 100% authentic and brand new Coach Patent Embossed Leather Wristlet. Perfect gift for Mother’s Day, birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, or any holiday etc. Features Leather Wrist strap with dog leash Clasp Leather Hang Tag Satin Interior with Single Organizer Slip Pocket Color Purple Approximate Measurements: ~6.5″ x ~4.5″ x ~1″… |
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Coach Sunglasses – S1014 / Frame: Lilac Lens: Purple Gradient $99.95 Coach Sunglasses, style S1014 is a rectangular rimless metal frame. The S1014 features adjustable screw-in pvc nose pads and plastic temple tips for extreme comfort. The Coach logo is engraved on the temples. Coach Sunglasses polycarbonate lenses always ensure 100% protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Size: 61-17-125 mm… |
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COACH MAEVE 1024 Eyeglasses (516) Lilac – 48 mm [Apparel] $145.00 Coach eyeglasses are an American classic, maintaining the same rigorous standards of craftsmanship since their founding. Each Coach eyeglass frame is designed with classic styling and modern, elegant details that complement any wardrobe. This timeless look, with a twist, is a head-turner. All Coach eyeglasses provide unmatched quality, comfort and durability… |
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COACH MAEVE 1024 Eyeglasses (516) Lilac – 50 mm [Apparel] $152.99 Coach eyeglasses are an American classic, maintaining the same rigorous standards of craftsmanship since their founding. Each Coach eyeglass frame is designed with classic styling and modern, elegant details that complement any wardrobe. This timeless look, with a twist, is a head-turner. All Coach eyeglasses provide unmatched quality, comfort and durability… |
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COACH MOIRA 1010 Eyeglasses (516) Lilac – 47 mm [Apparel] $152.99 Coach eyeglasses are an American classic, maintaining the same rigorous standards of craftsmanship since their founding. Each Coach eyeglass frame is designed with classic styling and modern, elegant details that complement any wardrobe. This timeless look, with a twist, is a head-turner. All Coach eyeglasses provide unmatched quality, comfort and durability… |
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Coach OC LRX Tablet Sleeve/IPad Holder $59.99 Carry your Ipad or Tablet in style. Leopard design with padded interior to protect your Tablet or Ipad…. |
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Premium Lightweight Plastic LILAC and White Polka Dots for iPhone 4 $13.00 Fashionable iPhone case cover… |
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Lilac Leather Pouch iPhone 2, 3/3gs & 4 Case, iTouch 4, iTouch 2 & 3, Universal Phone Case $13.00 … |
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AUTHENTIC COACH PENELOPE LEATHER HOBO 13159 (Lilac) $215.00 Flattering and understated, this Coach Penelope mediuml hobo is the perfect shoulder bag for your Coach collection. Retail $328+tax. Measures approx. 11.5 inch H x 8 inch W x 3 inch D ~Guaranteed Authentic Coach~… |
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Coach Patent Embossed Leather Wristlet F43639 (SV/Lilac) $89.97 100% authentic and brand new Coach Patent Embossed Leather Wristlet. Perfect gift for Mother’s Day, birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, or any holiday etc. Features Leather Wrist strap with dog leash Clasp Leather Hang Tag Satin Interior with Single Organizer Slip Pocket Color Purple Approximate Measurements: ~6.5″ x ~4.5″ x ~1″… |
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Coach Madison Clover Large Sophia Gray Satchel 15926 $319.99 Brand new this season, the sensible and chic Madison Clover Large Sophia satchel. Effortlessly converts from a handbag to shoulder bag. Multi gray sateen fabric with signature Coach Cs in a clever cluster pattern. Coach signature inside each cluster. Black leather straps and trim. Silver tone hardware including the classic Coach Heritage emblem on the front. The gray and purple color combinatio… |
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Coach Sunglasses – S1014 / Frame: Lilac Lens: Purple Gradient $99.95 Coach Sunglasses, style S1014 is a rectangular rimless metal frame. The S1014 features adjustable screw-in pvc nose pads and plastic temple tips for extreme comfort. The Coach logo is engraved on the temples. Coach Sunglasses polycarbonate lenses always ensure 100% protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Size: 61-17-125 mm… |
January 16, 2002
Coach