By Kerri Williams

If you have visited the Westport Library recently, I hope you took a little time to stop and smell the flowers on the lilac shrub near the entrance.

I spotted them last weekend and had to take a closer look. The pale, lavender blooms caught my eye first. But when I got closer, the signature scent is what took my breath away. It’s the same aroma I get this time of year when I walk out my own back door with the lilac bush right by it. To me, it smells like spring.

Driving around Westport, I spotted lilacs all around town. There was a bush by Viva Zapata Mexican Restaurant that was so pretty I had to stop and take a photo.

And when I stopped by Gilbertie’s Garden Center, it was the scent of the lilacs that greeted me as I walked toward the greenhouses.

Gilberties has many color variations, including the innocent-looking white lilac, along with some light and darker purple types. They even sell beautiful, two-toned flowers with both light and dark purple, called “Sensation Lilac.” I couldn’t help but notice people stopping by the display just to take in the gorgeous blooms and scent.

A spring flower with many lovely cousins

While the lilac is known for being lavender in color, it comes in a variety of hues, including blues, reds and magentas, according to my nephew Christopher, who owns Franlart Nurseries in Rhode Island.

Christopher has a favorite lilac, the “Miss Kim,” which he has planted next to some bright, magenta peonies to make a very simple but striking garden outside his barn. The scent of the lilac and peony flowers blend to make a lovely aroma, and he enjoys combining scents when gardening.

Christopher’s favorite lilac memory came when he worked at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. The arboretum has both areas for the public to enjoy and those strictly dedicated to research. When lilacs are in bloom in the research area, the scent was extra strong because there are so many planted there. As an employee, he was able to walk through and enjoy the aroma. “It was amazing,” he said.

Another place I have enjoyed seeing and smelling lilacs is while visiting my cousin Lisa’s home in Newtown. She has some beautiful, mature bushes in a variety of colors. Those lilacs had already been planted when Lisa moved to the property. Caring for them has been surprisingly easy, she said.

Lisa’s main tip for taking care of lilacs is to give them a “good pruning” right after they bloom. This helps to keep them healthy and encourages more flowers the following year, she said. For optimum flowering, the shrubs should receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.

Welcoming the lilac into the home

One of the best parts of growing lilacs is cutting off some of the blooms and making floral arrangements. I love bringing the garden into my home, and the lilac is one of the best flowers for doing this.

The lilac flower holds up particularly well after cutting and is surprisingly easy to arrange into beautiful centerpieces. I enjoy experimenting and coming up with unique containers to hold my lilacs.

One year, I used a teapot to create an unusual and very striking centerpiece. I also use smaller containers to create a little unexpected arrangement on a side table or fireplace mantle. Wherever you place them, they add a wonderful scent to your home.

One fact I learned when writing this article is that lilacs have been in the United States since the colonial period, likely brought here by those looking for a piece of home from Europe.

One piece of folklore says that planting lilacs can ward off evil spirits. Even scattering petals by a doorway is thought to keep negative vibes from entering your home.

So, this spring, take a little extra time to observe and smell the lilacs in bloom around town. Or maybe even plant one yourself. You will probably become a lilac lover, just like me.

Kerri Williams is a freelance writer who has worked in journalism for years, including as a reporter for the Norwalk Hour and managing editor of the Norwalk Citizen-News. If you have pictures or ideas to share, please send her an email at cultivatingwithkerri@gmail.com.