Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Who Says ~ Lilacs

Who says that we can't grow Lilacs in Southern California? As you can see from my new header, yes we can. Thanks to Descanso Hybrids a variety of Lilacs that apply enough, were bred at Descanso Gardens, a beautiful public display garden and house in La Canada, California. These lilacs, like some of the apple varieties I grow, do not need as many low-chill days to bloom. This year, perhaps because of the abundance of rain we  have had, they been performing beautifully. I picked the bouquet you see above on Easter morning, after taking this picture I took them to my Mother to enjoy. Now if some genius would only create a Peony that grew well and bloomed here I would be in heaven!

I had the following pictures left over after making the new header and I thought I would have fun editing them in Picnik using some of their textures and effects. I was very pleased with the results. In fact I consider the one with the butterfly to be the best image I have every captured. I find it so yummy that I could almost eat it with a spoon! Hope you like them too.











I forgot to mention what a lovely fragrance these have, they really do perfume a room ~ wonderful.




This post has been linked to http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/, http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/, http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://arosynote.blogspot.com/, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/, http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Posted by quotidienns at

35 comments:

  1. Life In a Little HouseApril 27, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Oh the butterfly picture is gorgeous you should print that on some note cards it would make a lovely card....thanks for sharing all that beauty ~Love Heather

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  2. ShandaApril 27, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    I just moved to Southern California less than two years ago and thought it awfully drab and void of color. Then all the sudden, everything is in bloom and the unexpected bursts of color appear out of nowhere. It is amazing what grows in Southern California...like...lylac!

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  3. High Street CottageApril 27, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    Adrienne, they're beautiful. I think California is great for gardening, however there are some parts where we get extreme heat so the blooms do not last long.

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  4. Adrienne ShubinApril 27, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    We have a lilac bush in the backyard. It blossomed a few weeks ago and that was it! It was so short-lived.
    They do smell divine, don't they. And that shade of purple is gorgeous.

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  5. HeatherApril 27, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    These lilacs are beautiful, and the photos are wonderful too.

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  6. Christine E-EApril 27, 2011 at 9:05 AM

    ohhhh... I love the textures on these pics. Did you take a class to learn to do this?
    The new banner is fabulous! I can almost smell the fragrance 200 miles away.

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  7. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageApril 27, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    Oh my, what beautiful blooms! Our lilacs won't bloom here for a while yet. I can almost smell yours. I love the photo with the butterfly in it!Wishing you a beautiful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  8. Musings from Kim K.April 27, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Beautiful pictures. You do such good work with your camera and picnik. I love lilacs. We won't see them until mid-late June in MI. I even have a Miss Kim lilac in my yard. Happy Wednesday!

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  9. LindaApril 27, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    Oh I love visiting Descanso Gardens...the California lilacs there are so wonderful! There are wild lilacs in the hills near my house and oh...the smell right now is wonderful!!
    Your photos are wonderful!!

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  10. DonnaApril 27, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Oh your lilacs are beautiful and I know they must smell wonderful too. Love your header and your photos are fantastic!

    Hugs,
    Donna

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  11. Sarah @ Modern Country StyleApril 27, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    I'd not thought about how it must be tricky to choose plants to last through your lovely hot summers. At last, I can be grateful for our English rain!!!

    I['ve signed up as your new follower.

    Sarahx

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  12. CarolynApril 27, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Beautiful!!!

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  13. An Oasis in the DesertApril 27, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    I thought you could grow just about anything in southern CA. I guess you showed them that you could grow lilacs. They are beautiful. I really like what you did with the extra photos in Picnik, especially the first one.
    CAS

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  14. TrishApril 27, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Lilacs are one of my favourite flowers.
    Yours are gorgeous!
    And so are your photos. I love the different effects you achieved with them!
    blessings..Trish

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  15. It's Just DottieApril 27, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Lilacs really do not grow along the Texas Gulf Coast where I live! I have never seen one. They must be so very wonderful.

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  16. Jacqueline~Cabin and CottageApril 27, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    Such beautiful pictures! Someday I hope to get the time to learn how to do all this! Your Lilacs are wonderful!

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  17. Diana LaMarreApril 28, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    I did not realize that lilacs don't grow in CA. Yours are beautiful.

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  18. LindaApril 28, 2011 at 4:27 AM

    Beautiful photos!! what a lovely blog - so glad I found you!!

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  19. A Few PenniesApril 28, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    You are right--there is nothing like a bouquet of lilacs in a room--the aroma is wonderful! Pretty posting! Patty

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  20. cherryApril 28, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    They are lovely and so is your blog it's my first time here but I will be back.. Happy Flora Thursday.

    hugs from Savannah, Cherry

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  21. AnonymousApril 28, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    How wonderful! My lilac bushes are still too young to bless me with such beautiful blooms.

    But I know that in the waiting, I can dream of the scent and the beauty that is to come :)

    Maria

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  22. UnknownApril 28, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Gorgious and i love what you have done with your images. Wish I could smell them.

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  23. Kay KApril 28, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    lilacs are lovley !!! thanks for sharing

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  24. Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysApril 28, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Lilacs are a bit of heaven. Wish I could grow them.

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  25. HolleyGardenApril 28, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    I've been wondering how these lilacs do in the south. Thanks for your nod of approval. Beautiful pics.

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  26. Janettessage.blogspot.comApril 28, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Oh yes their fragrance is wonderful...how beautiful..another wonderful creation from our creator.

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  27. AnonymousApril 28, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Adrienne, these are gorgeous! The photos and the lilacs. We had a couple of old fashioned lilacs at the farm, but never got around to planting any here. I miss them. I loved having lilac bouquets in the Spring.

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  28. TriciaApril 28, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Oh I love lilacs, their smell is almost intoxicating! Your photos turned out beautiful...I love the one with the butterfly too. Your photography just keeps getting prettier. Thanks for sharing your post at Photo Feature Friday :)

    Hugs ♥ Tricia

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  29. FYHApril 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Love the smell of Lilacs...beautiful shots!

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  30. Gail DixonApril 29, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Beautiful lilacs! Love the textures you used on the first and last one. I can imagine how lovely they must smell. Enjoy!

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  31. Carola BartzApril 29, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    What would a spring be without lilacs? I love them so much, I have two of them in my garden. Both are still rather small, but are flowering beautifully (well, we're already past that). I especially love the fragrance of it.
    Your pictures look gorgeous, you did a great job with those textures. I love the head banner!

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  32. Pam KesslerApril 29, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    How pretty. I love the smell of lilacs. I am so glad you get to enjoy them too!

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  33. AnonymousApril 29, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    Hi Adrienne! Lilacs!! Oh how fragrant and sweet. One of my favorites. Your photos are beautiful. Stop by and visit my blog. I have a little gift for you at this post: http://robanstudio.blogspot.com/2011/04/thank-you-nicky-for-my-blog-award.html

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  34. Fishtail CottageApril 30, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    oh my - i can almost smell them from here! Beautiful! Thanks so much for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday's xoxo, tracie

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  35. Liz @ the Brambleberry CottageMay 12, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    I keep telling myself that I will plant lilac bushes. I've been here almost six years now and still haven't done so. Seeing your lovely blooms inpires me to follow through. ;)

    Thanks for linking to my party, Adriennne.

    Hugs,
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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