Lilac Sensation

In 2009, on a late spring holiday in Ontario, Canada, I very much enjoyed seeing Lilacs in bloom. My favourite, a hybrid called Sensation, was photographed in a private garden near Toronto.

Inspiring Lilacs

All the Lilacs I saw were inspiring - I gathered lots of photographs and wrote down label names in my notebook. As soon as I returned home buying some for my own garden became a high priority.

But I never thought I'd be lucky enough to find 'Sensation' - this was a truly random purchase, found in a nursery I rarely visit. I'm so lucky - New Zealand gardeners can't bring any plant or seed matter back home with them after overseas travel. Now I have a garden memento of that wonderful garden visit.

Every shrubby garden should find space for at least one lilac. Originally the Moosey Garden did have a basic purple variety. I've only just worked out why it disappeared. Gradually the privet rootstock took over, and a year ago the last of the graft failed.

I hope that Sensation is a worthier replacement. It's a French hybrid with pretty purple flowers edged with white. I've planted this Lilac in the Island Bed where I can see the blooms from the house. It's a permanent (hopefully) memory of my holiday to Ontario.

Footnote

My knowledgeable friend tells me that in Canada Lilacs are 'properly' grafted, unlike in New Zealand where privet is still used as a rootstock. Ha!