Lilac Time

I love this time of year! The evenings are lengthening, and suddenly gardens are full of colour.

My favourite flower and perfume of all is lilac. In my front garden we have a small lilac bush and this year it has bloomed early, because we had such a mild winter.

 I adore that heavenly smell and colour

and the heart-shaped leaves.

It's produced lots of blooms, so I've been able to indulge myself and bring some inside. The lilac season is a short one, and I try to make the most of it. I like to put it in a green vase because the colours go so well together.

Walt Whitman described the flower in his poem 'When lilacs last in the door-yard bloom'd':

'In the door-yard fronting an old farm-house, near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac bush, tall-growing, with heart-shaped leaves of rich green'
Lilac has long been regarded with superstition, and many people still do not bring it into the house in case it invites disaster. This is especially true of the white variety, but also of hawthorn, or 'may' blossom. I, however, am not superstitious, and continue to revel in its perfume and colour, as well as being inspired to make things.

Here is a lilac cross-stitched bookmark which I made from a kit. I really enjoyed sewing it, and love the tactile nature of the stitches.

I also made a crochet patchwork blanket in the same colour combination, with the addition of cream. It's a very simple one which is sewed together, instead of crocheted, and quite small.

Those colours really make me think of this time of year!