.
O month when they who love must love and wed.
Author: Helen Hunt Jackson (Helen Hunt)
Walking to the bus stop yesterday I realized how much I really love the month of May. There’s no one reason in particular – in fact, I have an entire list of reasons!
- The smell of fresh-cut grass – preferably without the accompanying smell of gas mowers
- Birthdays – Mom, Dad and D all celebrate their birthdays in May
- I met D in the month of May (5 years ago)
- D & I are getting married in May of 2009
- I can comfortably bike to work in shorts
- It is one of those few months when you can golf and snowboard on the same day. This might necessitate flying across the country, but trust me, it’s worth it.
- Lilacs.
I have to take a second here to admit something. This entire list of ‘reasons that I love May’ was actually a setup so I could write about lilacs. I freaking love lilacs. May is a great month and all, don’t get me wrong, but I walked by a lilac bush that was just beginning to bloom yesterday morning and I wanted to stop there and stare at the blooms all day. Even though it was on the corner of two noisy, busy streets.
I love how they’re not like other flowers and won’t sit straight up and down in a vase like a tulip or a daffodil might. Lilacs do their own thing creating the most unique and beautiful shapes. Their scent is intoxicating! I always go out of my way to walk by lilacs.
At the farm (and by ‘the farm’ I mean the farm where we grew up) there are lilac bushes hiding near the house. I say they are hiding because you can’t really see them very well from the house or the yard, but you can see them as you drive north towards our driveway. To get to the lilacs is tricky – you have to walk along the side of the ovary bush (actually a small forest in our from yard with a very unique name) and along the edge of a field. It’s a great place to escape from housework. Oops – did I say that? Well, seeing as I no longer live at home I can admit it 
Photo by jamelah
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
my mom also loves lilacs – that’s why she got married in may…27 years ago! i think they had all sorts of lilacs at their wedding…
i love that they grow so easily on a tree and are so hardy, but are such a beautiful and great smelling flower. they’re a triple threat!
Wonderfully written Erica. My only favourite month is November… but even then it’s only because my birthday is in November. And I even hate the weather in November. Now August… that’s a good weather month (for me anyway)… but I loves the heat!
Lilacs smell like a dream!
I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and there was a street in town that was lined with lilacs. Even now, the smell of lilacs immediately brings me back to that street, all those beautiful purple flowers, the way they smelled and looked, when I was a little girl. Thanks for sharing!
The latest stylings of GeekMom…R2-D2 is as cold as Hoth
What is it about May flowers? I love them too. Not just lilacs, but also cherry blossoms, peonies, ranunculus…
The latest stylings of Laura…Long-Term Travel
If I was on my computer instead of Laurens, I would direct you to my favourite lilac photo- o ne of a filthy Lauren with a fistful of lilacs asleep on the kitchen table! They are not blooming yet though- I checked when I was mowing the lawn (gas mower) this evening. My favourite May scent has to be Lily of the Valley- they will be blooming by Wednesday!
The latest stylings of Mommy…Happy Rainy Mother’s Day!
I absolutely LOVE lilacs. I love the colour the smell and how they look when they are in a huge bouquet. I don’t think i get a high from any other flower.
Great post!