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Not a big surprise when you think back on my biking episode—which is the reason why I’ll probably stick to driving to school for the rest of my life. On the particular route I choose to take each day, I pass numerous yards with large green bushes decorated with enchanting purple blossoms around this time of year.
I just love these purple blooms with the aromatic scent that seems to saturate the cotton-fluff air, and is one of the most telltale signs of the shifting of spring to summer.
Now, I’m not a big flowery kind of person; I mean sure, flowers are nice, I enjoy seeing from time to time, but that’s about it. Yet, with these tiny, lavender blooms there is something more. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that the elementary school I attended when growing up had several large lilac bushes lining the front of the building. Maybe it’s because they’re the same color as the huckleberries we went out to pick high up in the summited mountains, or even quite possibly it’s because they remind me so much of Shasta grape soda, and the ‘Purple Cows’ my family used to make on occasion instead of root beer floats.
Nonetheless, I’ve always enjoyed the scent of these violetish flowers that usually seem find themselves spent by the end of May.
There’s just something about that fragrance…
Not long ago I was driving home late from work and found myself passing by numerous bushes of varying shades and hue. Realizing that I simply couldn’t stop in someone’s yard and pick these, I enjoyed them from a distance—and yet I longed for that lilac-y smell. That’s about the time I noticed a few wild bushes growing next to the freeway—two or three of differing types. I pulled my car off to the side of the road and picked a couple of the clumps.
They smelled like childhood.
I took them home and put them in water but was discouraged to discover that they only lasted two days before they wilted and were lifelessly gone.
Such is the fate of all wonderful things.
So now I think that maybe it's time to invest in a real-life lilac bush…or perhaps a good air freshener, after all, it will probably last longer.
Oh, and just in case you were interested...I’m posting over at my own blog today, too.
The first photo is courtesy of yours truly while the second was pilfered shamelessly from http://www.myrecipes.com
10 comments:
Lilacs are a favorite of mine as well. Love that scent. I don't know if an air freshener or candle could do it justice though...
I can't read past Purple Cow. That is so happening in my house this summer, genius.
But you're right, flowers are nice. :)
Lilacs are one of things I miss most about Washington and my childhood. Here in Oklahoma it is difficult to grow lilacs. I've tried, and will try again this year. You want to hear pitiful? I found a bush at the garden store recently, picked a bloom and walked around the store with it up to my nose until it wilted and the husband said "cut it out, you look ridiculous!"
Lilacs remind me of childhood too. My grandparents had some in their backyard and my cousins and I spent hours upon hours of daylight in that backyard.
My mom is from Chicago and whenever I gave her lilacs it brought back memories of Chicago to her.. We have some lilac farms out here, unfortunately the cold weather and some fires killed off half a crop of lilacs belonging to local farmers... I love the white ones- those are a rarity.
Yesterday when I looked out my bedroom window I was so sad to see the lilacs going. I wish they lasted longer. I do love lilacs. They remind me of the lilacs under my bedroom window growing up..
Lilacs will always be about my mother and Mother's Day. Growing up we would often make a homemade necklace of lilac flowers strung on a thread for my mom's "corsage".
It is true, that is one scent that just can't be beat.
I love lilacs - they are my Grandma to me. Her lilac bushes were my favorite place to hide when playing hide and seek, and I too would pick some only to discover they didn't last.
I love the smell - it's such a comfort smell for me!
I love lilacs and that evocative scent--it's my grandma, too. She has lilac bushes in her yard to this day. Lovely post.
I am the same way with Honeysuckle, they smell like childhood to me.
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