11th Annual Lilac Walk

Secret Garden Lilacs at Procter, BC

It's that time of year. We are gearing up for our Annual Lilac Walk. This year the lilac walk will once again be at both gardens. On Sunday, June 12th join us for the sweet scent of lilacs.

Start at the Culp Farm at 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 and view the huge collection of lilacs in a lovely pastoral setting and next to the pond. Select varieties will be available for purchase at the farm.

Continue on to the Blackman's Secret Garden at Tete Jaune where the collection is in a deep forest setting. From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. enjoy tea in the garden or on the deck overlooking the river.

The lilac buds are starting to show some color and we are hoping for a great bloom for you to enjoy.

Spring, finally!

A sure sign of spring is the blooming of the double bloodroot under the "Primrose" lilac in my garden. While some snow and ice remains along the Fraser River, it is definitely feeling like spring is finally here.

On a trip up the mountain yesterday, two black bears were sighted, another Spring sign. Growing in a wet boggy spot, I spied the first wild flowers. I think they are a type of saxifrage. Correct me if I am wrong.

The BrideThe Bride is one of the Skinner lilacs in my collection. This lilac was purchased at the International Lilac Convention's auction. I hope to add more Skinner lilacs in the future. My favorite Skinner lilac has to be Excel. Pictures of it are posted earlier on this blog. Second choice would have to be Maidens Blush. This lilac never fails to perform here in my garden.

Maiden's Blush

Frank Skinner developed these lilacs in the harsh Canadian climate of Manitoba. They are perfect for my garden in the Canadian Rockies although they do require a site with a bit of protection from the winter winds off the Fraser River.

The Lilac Allee

After finding the Lilac Allee at Mt. Cuba Centre on the web I decided to get into the spirit for the 2012 International Lilac Convention in Nancy,France. Therefore I have decided to rename my "Lilac Walk" the "Lilac Allee." As the photo above shows, the Lilac Allee at Mt. Cuba is much more formal and better maintained than is mine.

As I have many pots of lilacs that must be planted out this year, the plan is to extend the walk, creating a gently curving grassy path with lilacs on both sides. The current lilac walk is about 90 feet long. It was originally a one sided planting with a 5 foot bed of perennials and bulbs surrounding a very small planting of lilacs. Originally there were only 5 lilacs planted in the row: Sensation, Belle de Nancy, Grande Flora Alba, President Grevy and Miss Canada. Several years later I added a row on the other side.

Last fall I planted out another row of lilacs which now will be joined with additional plantings to the original walk. This should create a wonderful allee approximately 300 feet long. This time around I will lay landscape fabric and mulch so that I do not end up with the maintenance nightmare of dealing with all the grass in the planting. Wish me luck.

SPRING 2011

After a very long cold snowy winter, I have found my enthusiasm for my lilac garden again. Last year I spent almost no time in the garden. The lilacs suffered terribly in the spring of 2010 after a crazy freezing/thawing February. I am back on track again with great plans to rejuvinate my garden and my lilac collection. After signing up with WWOOF Canada I am hoping to have some help in doing just that.


Looking back at photos of the lilacs last fall, I see how both Miss Kim and Palabin really contribute to color in the garden late in the season. We should all plant more of these season extending lilacs.

Palabin

Miss Kim

It's almost lilac time

We have been experiencing the craziest spring that I can remember. We had some really warm weather for a week in early April and then the temperature plunged into the freezer. The lilacs that had looked so promising back then have so much dead wood. I wonder if they will recover. I'm going to wait a month and see, but I have a sinking feeling that this might be permanent damage. This is the first spring that anything like this has happened in the garden. I am blaming the April weather and the fact that we had to remove thirteen very large over-mature fir trees that were threatening to come down on our roof. The wind now comes off the river, and it seems like it never stops blowing.

A few of the hyacinthafloras are just starting to open. Excel is showing some color but is not promising its usual amazing show. This is one of my favorite lilacs. It is just so spectacular and it is one of the first to bloom in the garden. It is situated in a bit more of a sheltered spot than some of the others.

Below are pictures of it in full bloom in past years. I would definitely recommend this lilac for your collection. Its hard to surpass its loveliness.

Hulda Klager

Mr. Peabody in front of Hulda Klager

Mr. Peabody thinks he is just as beautiful as Hulda Klager! This Vulgaris lilac grows at the Culp Farm. It is a single, color class 7, Klager 1928. A very lovely dark purple lilac.
It has been growing here for many years.

Hulda Klager has been a great inspiration to us. We have visited the gardens many times over the years. If you are ever in Woodland, be sure to check it out. Go to http://www.lilacgardens.com/ to read the story and view pictures of the garden.