On the very first night of moving into our home in 2007, we sat on a couch surrounded by boxes and plant catalogs. I wanted a lilac that would grow in and look amazing through this window that is otherwise looking out to not much of a view— at the time. Our new neighbor has done wonders on his yard.

So I left my husband to pick something out, let me just say it was a bit of that manipulative planning that is required in marriage. Give the person with very little knowledge about gardening something to be proud off and willing to spend the money on, while behind the scenes, I was dumping hundreds more into plants and hard-work everywhere else.

After the tribulations of the past year, our move out, unexpected move in, this was a most welcome sight and fulfills my vision from that very first night in our house. The truth is that lilac has never been particularly happy, the sun in that space is strange, broiling hot part of the day in the summer, otherwise, now weak due to the street trees. But everything came together for lovely blooms this year.

Next year, it’s possible we are going to lose the two other lilacs in the yard. There is white one planted near the front gate that is very happy and selected as my great-grandmother had one near her front gate that will have to come out for the construction crews. In the back, we have a gigantic lilac that I rescued from a construction site on Capitol Hill that we guess is at least fifty years old. I carried it home in the back of my Tercel, branches dragging on the street. It’s gotten so large it is impossible to even smell the blooms, so we may just take some cuttings to replant, as we make way for a larger shed.

This particular lilac is ‘celebration.’ Each petal is centered with well, lilac, and edged with white. Here’s a close-up.