24 April 2020

Lilac for Susan





Our lilac bush is situated in the darkest corner of the garden and the blooms are not yet out.  In France, at this time of year, our neighbour Philippe would always present me with a bouquet of lilac cut from his garden.  It was a sweet custom that I was thinking about a few days ago.

Yesterday the postman delivered an envelope with a French postmark.  Inside was a card from Philippe and Patricia with a note – Lilac for Susan.

Philippe and Patricia with their son Mathieu and his girlfriend.



23 comments:

  1. Nice to be remembered. They obviously cared about you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were neighbours for a long time and they always looked out for us.

      Delete
  2. I was so pleased to get this card from them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a very sweet thing to do. I hope you will find a way to send some love and kindness back to Philippe and Patricia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were the best of neighbours and always made us feel welcome in their hamlet.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. I was very touched to receive their card at this time.

      Delete
  5. I recently noticed that my son has planted some Lilac trees up at the Séchoir. I do like those dark flowers, in fact the only Lilacs I don't really like are the Lilac coloured ones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The flowers don't last that long but are stunning while they bloom.

      Delete
    2. The secret is to strip the flowers of their leaves, and to pick branches with just leaves to accompany them in the pot. It's the leaves on the stems that makes the flowers die quickly. This was a tip from my mother from about 50 years ago, and it works.

      Delete
    3. A useful tip, thank you.

      Delete
  6. Going back to Dick and Angel, they are currently making a lockdown programme, Make Do and Mend, for Ch4. No worries about Dick and Angel then!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, I shall look out for that one. They are a very resourceful pair.

      Delete
  7. How lovely that they have remembered, and sent the card.
    I'm planning to add some shrubs to the garden and hadn't thought about adding Lilac as I'm not sure it will grow here. I'll look out for that beautiful dark one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. When I moved to my present home 5 years ago, I treated myself to a Lilac sapling; unfortunately it turned out to be a very pale lilac colour. I friend then told me the name of a Lilac that would bear the deep purple coloured flowers that I wanted. This year it has 28 flowers on it and is almost 6 feet tall. It's a real stunner - and has a divine scent. I'd love to have some indoors but can't bear to cut them off my lovely tree!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The scent can actually be quite overpowering indoors.

      Delete
  9. I love the smell of Lilac but Mum always said it was unlucky to have it in the house.....was reading a thread on FB only yesterday about it being bad luck....especially white lilac. Makes you wonder where these "old wives tales "come from!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess other countries have different customs and beliefs.

      Delete