Common magic

Lilac- Edmond Leighton

There is something magical about the same old progression of flowers each spring: crocus, daffodils, tulips, lilacs, then peonies.  Depending on the weather, the season for each is often too short, but I don't hold it against any plant for only blooming once a year.  Think of our beloved and common lilac.  The shrub is nothing much to look at for 50 weeks, but that short, wonderful bloom is part of the charm and magic.

Lilacs were well-known in England by the time of Henry VIII, and they appeared often in 19th century novels. Lilacs originally came to Europe from the middle East, and the name lilac is from an old Persian world for blue.

Persian garden

Here's a poem about the cultivation of lilacs in Persia, by Lydia Huntley Sigourney, the first American women to have a successful writing career.  No one has heard of her now, but she published 22 volumes of poetry in the 1800's.

Lilac of Persia! Tell us some fine tale
Of Eastern lands; we're fond of travelers.
Have you no legends of some sultan proud,
Or old fire-worshiper? Well, tis' wondrous strange
That you let so rare a chance pass by,
While those who never journeyed half so far
Fill sundry volumes, and expect the world
To reverently peruse and magnify 
What it well knew before.