The Scent of Lilacs

A close view of the Common lilac blossoms. Photo by Roy Lukes.

Few plants bring back as many pleasant memories as does one of this region’s most common, widespread, and well-loved shrubs, the Lilac. It was usually toward the end of May and into early June that the Lilac shrubs bloomed profusely throughout eastern Wisconsin. The Decoration Day (Memorial Day today) celebration included an American Legion-sponsored parade to pay respect at both of the Kewaunee cemeteries, and I can so distinctly remember many of the graves decorated with lovely bouquets of Lilacs.

My parents’ photo albums, dating back to their marriage in 1926, include photographs of my two older brothers, Ivan and Leo, and me proudly holding the small American flags we were given for marching in the annual, eagerly-awaited Decoration Day parade in Kewaunee. What deeply impressed me when visiting the cemeteries on that hallowed day was hearing one of the trumpet players from the high school band play “Taps,” little realizing that when I became a freshman in high school (1944) I too would play “Taps” at both of the city cemeteries for the following four years. When the direction of the wind was just right, the sweet odor of Lilacs permeated the air, leaving a lasting, deeply-ingrained and lilac-scented memory of those important days.

It’s difficult to imagine that the widespread Lilacs are not native to North America. These flowering shrubs grow in Southeastern Europe to the Himalayas, Northeast Asia, Japan, China, and Persia. There are many species and hundreds of hybrids and horticultural forms available today. It’s no surprise that our most common species by far is called the Common Lilac, Syringa vulgaris (sir-ING-a vul GAIR-is). The species name, vulgaris, simply means common.

The Lilac family, Oleaceae (o-lee-A-see-ee) is a very important family that also includes Olive and Ash. Perhaps this accounts for the wonderful burning quality of Ash wood, being related to the Olive. I recall reading that Lilac wood, when burned, emits a very floral fragrance.

The Common Lilac at peak bloom. Photo by Roy Lukes.

Lilac species and forms can vary considerably in height, from six feet to over 30 feet. Various shades of purple, lilac, white, pale yellow, pink and dark burgundy can also be obtained. Our Common Lilac is generally a very fragrant light lilac in color and may grow to 20 or more feet in height.

Other excellent qualities of most Lilac shrubs are their fragrance and copious supplies of nectar, which prove to be highly attractive and important to several species of butterflies. Monarch Butterflies, which began arriving in Door County in early June, had flown northward all the way from the southern states and are on the lookout for energy-restoring and nourishing nectar, such as Lilac, to prepare them for breeding. Another butterfly species, the Red Admiral, is also migratory. I’ve seen a white Lilac at the peak of its flowering in the Baileys Harbor area in mid to late June with a dozen or more Red Admirals feasting on the nectar.

As I’ve mentioned in a past story dealing with the prolonged blossoming periods of Trilliums and Yellow Lady’s-slipper Orchids, the blossoming period of Lilacs in Door County can easily extend for a month or more. There have been years when one could see nicely blooming Lilacs at Cana Island on the Fourth of July. Another famous site, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Peninsula State Park, usually has beautiful Lilac displays in early June.

My dad, who was an outstanding gardener, planted several white and several light purple Lilacs at our home in Kewaunee. Another Syringa shrub he planted, and which became a great family favorite over the years, was the so-called Mock Orange, very heavily perfumed, which grew near our large sand pile along the north side of the garage. Dad would replenish that favorite play area with a couple trailer loads of clean beach sand every spring.

Deep pink variety of Lilacs. Photo by Roy Lukes.

Lilacs were included in two very important graduations in my early life. The first was graduation from Kewaunee High School in early June of 1947. The next was graduation from the Door-Kewaunee Normal School in Algoma in June of 1951 where I learned to be a rural schoolteacher. The stages at both events were liberally decorated with many vases of Lilacs.

Charlotte and I enjoy driving country roads in search of old homesteads where little to no evidence of the buildings exists today, but the liberal growth of Lilac shrubs or Daylilies attests to active living there many years ago. One example exists along County Highway “T” a few miles southeast of Egg Harbor where we find what may be one of the largest growths of Common Lilacs in eastern Wisconsin. Another purple and white expanse of Lilacs which many people enjoy every June can be seen several miles north of Baileys Harbor along State Highway 57 near the junction with Lime Kiln Road.

I hope you enjoy this day, and please don’t forget to smell the Lilacs!