the fragrance oflilac
ideal spring
and its haunting
TEXT CHRISTINE ALLEN
B
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eloved by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as well as humans, lilacs have a special place in the spring
garden. They may not bloom for long, but their luxuriant trusses of flowers and heady fragrance set
lilacs firmly among the most romantic of shrubs.
The most popular varieties are the French lilacs (Syringa vulgaris), which flower in May. These
include the lovely double-flowered 'Madame Lemoine', whose cream buds open to pure white, and
rich fuchsia-purple 'Congo', now more than a century old and still one of the most dependable. Both
are heavily scented.
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