Lilacs have been around forever. Their nostalgic fragrance will transport you to earlier times and bring a smile to your face. Their romantic fragrance has inspired poetry, songs, romance and for many bring fond nostalgic memories of springs past. It is a MUST HAVE and a grandmother in your life – or me – would agree!

From bud through bloom you’ll enjoy lilacs for 6 to 8 weeks usually in April and early May. They indeed say, “Spring is Here.” Soak up their beauty in the garden or cut in a vase.

These deciduous shrubs are the perfect reminder that warmer days are soon to come. They can be used as a hedge or screen in the landscape, a single accent, or planted in mixed borders. Lilacs attract hummingbirds and butterflies and are surprisingly resistant to deer. We have a selection of different sizes and colors that will bloom in your garden this year and many years to come. What’s important to remember is where they would happily live and where you would like them to grow. Since lilacs lose their leaves in winter and are in glorious bloom for 6-8 weeks in spring, my suggestion is they be planted in an area that’s not the highest profile but certainly within ‘enjoyment’ view. 

Lilacs will prosper in our heavy Valley soils; transplant easily; are drought tolerant; prefer full sun, with a touch of afternoon shade, but will grow in light shade. They will endure a wide range of temperatures — our occasionally frosty valley winters will not phase the hardy lilac, they like the winter chill.

Low maintenance and very forgiving of occasional neglect, lilacs are ideal for busy valley weekend gardeners faced with time conflicts. All they ask is well-drained soil with good air circulation and lots of sunlight. In return, they will give you good looks, a fragrant bloom and cut flowers your neighbors will envy.

One of the oldest European garden favorites, Lilacs were spread throughout the world by Dutch, English, and French settlers and now adorn gardens and landscapes from America to China. Many mid-West and Eastern Gardeners in California yearn for lilacs to remind them of home.

Lilacs are a treasure in people’s hearts and minds for their classic scent and beauty. Establish them in spring before summer heat arrives and enjoy them for generations to come. We have several varieties for you to select from. Come and find just the right color to add to your garden and do some “Time Traveling” with its perfume.

Start annual morning glories from seed this month and establish them in the garden or a pot by summer! Morning glories are one of the most stunning of the old-fashioned garden flowers. Flowers are huge – three to five inches across – and bright, colorful blue, purple or pink. Best of all, morning glories are easy!

Start indoors to transplant later, or directly sow in the landscape now.  Improve the soil by mixing a couple of inches of Gold Rush soil conditioner into the garden soil. Plant seeds a half inch deep. Water to get them started.

Morning glories from seed are typically annuals, dying completely in winter, though they will most likely reseed to sprout next year.

Try planting morning glory among sunflowers.  The sunflowers will grow quickly, providing a natural trellis for the Morning Glory to climb.  Sunflowers also may be started from seed outdoors now or in the coming weeks.

The Happy Wanderer Vine Lilac is making quite a show of itself, blooming in the nursery right now. It is a beautiful, climbing vine with some winning attributes; it is drought tolerant, winter-blooming and evergreen, to name a few.

It’s the cascade of purple blooms brightening the garden in late winter and early spring that makes this vine stand out most. Few other plants are blooming at this time, and this one looks fabulous!

An Australian native, growing to about 10′ Happy Wanderer Vine Lilac can handle both sun and bright shade. It is hardy to about 20 degrees and at 10 ft. It won’t get out of hand.  It is perfect for climbing up a small structure such as an obelisk, or tumbling out of a large container. It has been successfully grown over a small arbor as well. It also grows beautifully as a bank cover by pinning the branches down. Did we mention it’s evergreen? What’s not to like about this beauty?

Plant and enjoy now, then cut back after bloom to prevent tangling.

The various deciduous magnolia hybrids are commonly referred to as tulip trees. They display an abundance of large, tulip-shaped flowers in early spring. The flowers can be up to 12 inches in diameter, depending on the variety.

Deciduous magnolias drop all their leaves by December, revealing their large silvery buds. Even in the darkest days of winter, the budded magnolias are ripe with the promise of spectacular early spring bloom.

Deciduous Magnolias would be happiest when planted in an area that gets a mid-afternoon shade break. E. B. Stone Acid Planting Mix is a worthwhile addition to our soil.

The next month is the best time to see the Magnolias in bloom. Shop early for the best selection, and you will find that Yes — Tulips do grow on trees!