My Mother's Lilacs

 My Mother's lilacs bloomed for Mother's Day!

Those of you who have been following me for a long time know

that this always makes me happy.

My mother was an avid gardener, 

a country girl from New Hampshire

who was transplanted to the city.

She had a very green thumb and her  roses, flower gardens, flowering bushes and vegetable garden were the most bountiful and beautiful in her tiny yard in the neighborhood of tiny yards.

She had lilacs of many colors from deep purple to white, but these

pink purple ones were her favorite.

My mother's lilacs grew and she gave their offshoots away to all the neighbors who wanted them and most of these gifts are still blooming although all the new residents who enjoy their fragrant blooms each spring never met my mother and have no idea from whence they came.
The higher blooms you see in the background of this photo are over the fence in our young neighbors' yard.

However, as my mother's health declined in her later years and she could no longer garden, her roses and lilacs withered and became overgrown, decimated by harsh winters and over shadowed by large trees. When I was a young mother and living in another state we could only do basic yard work when we were able to visit.  

My mother's green thumb was not handed down to me

 although I do enjoy puttering around the yard.

To make the long short, a few years ago my mother's legacy in our yard was reduced to one small, non-blooming bush that was near extinction.  My hubby and I dug it out and moved it to a sunnier spot and I watered and did my best to nurture.

The first year it bloomed again was a joyous celebration.

Every year it has a few more blooms.

It blooms each year for Mother's Day

and I see my Mother's smile.

:-)