Lilacs and Lillies

As a child, I lived in Baltimore with my family for 10 years, and for the longest time, that was the longest I lived anywhere ever.  So, memories. 

Scientists say that smells hold memories longer and stronger than other senses, and I can't disagree. 

Lilacs and Lily of the Valley are the smells of my childhood.

I'd never forgotten lilac and lily of the valley, but I hadn't really figured on encountering them here in Bremen.  But here they are, in abundance.

What's funny in the meantime is that they are both weeds!  I mean, they grow like crazy and will take over any space they are given, given the chance!  Blessings and curses.

Our little house had lilies of the valley in the yard when we moved in and I was careful to save plants during all the reworkings of our terrace garden.  We have a nice little patch now.

Unfortunately, these hearty and robust plants send out underground roots to make newbies.  And those newbies come up between the stones of our walkway.  Every couple of years, I have to take up the stones, dig out the invaders and re-place the stones.  What a pain!

But the aroma!  Such a little bouquet fills the room with a sweetness that is close to indescribable.  Perhaps part of the appeal is that it is so fleeting.  These blooms only last three days at most inside; outside, only a day or two more. 

Then the lilacs.  They linger a bit longer.  Out front, the bushes are so heavy with blossoms and this week, coming home from the train station, I've been overtaken by their smell well before getting to the house.  Purple clouds of joy.

I get to have some of this joy in the house for just a few days each year. 

  

Carpe Diem.