Lilac Season is in full swing this week! It’s definitely one of our favorite weeks of the entire season! 💜 If you are on Mackinac during the week, stop by! We have the best lilac goodies to take home with you - tote bags, tea towels, lilac soaps, lotions and more!
We wanted to share with you some facts about lilacs that we learned from the book, Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance on Mackinac Island.
You can purchase the book here: https://littleluxuriesofmackinac.com/products/lilacs-a-fortnight-of-fragrance-on-mackinac-island?_pos=4&_sid=b348bb685&_ss=r.
◦ Lilac bushes can live over 100 years!
◦ The purple lilacs have the strongest scent compared to other colors.
◦ Lilacs symbolize spring and renewal. They also symbolize confidence, which makes them a traditionally popular gift for graduates.
◦ European colonists frost brought over their beloved lilac bushes to North America in the 1750’s.
◦ Lilacs have been a source of inspiration for artists throughout history. Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet both gave famous works depicting the beauty of lilacs in their paintings.
◦ A lilacs smell can change depending on the season! A lilacs scent can change character based on the years climate. A cool spring and summer will trails a different scent than a hot season.
The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau also shares some great information about lilacs on Mackinac!
Want to visit the oldest lilac on Mackinac Island? The oldest lilac bush is located at Harbour View Inn and can still be visited today!
Here’s a fun fact: In Marquette Park alone, you will see 115 lilac plants and 75 species!
So if you don’t make far on your adventure, at least head to Marquette Park to see all the beautiful colors and scents!
We love learning more about the beautiful lilacs and the history of them on Mackinac Island! The first documentation of lilacs was by Henry David Thoreau in 1861. It has been about 200 years since lilacs were brought to Mackinac Island, making them the oldest in the country!
The tourism bureau shares this information and more on their website here: https://www.mackinacisland.org/blog/post/why-there-are-so-many-beautiful-lilacs-on-mackinac-island/#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20Mackinac%20Island%20lilacs&text=Instead%2C%20they%20were%20brought%20to,before%20he%20died%20of%20tuberculosis..
Don’t forget, stop in to pick up the book, Lilacs: A Fortnight of Fragrance on Mackinac Island or you can purchase it here: https://littleluxuriesofmackinac.com/products/lilacs-a-fortnight-of-fragrance-on-mackinac-island?_pos=1&_sid=04e6282a0&_ss=r.
Soon you’ll be a lilac expert!
