Flower Hour #19 – The perfume strong I love!

The Flower Hour #19: Almond Tree Blossoms

Here in Ontario’s deep south, where spring is teasing us but hasn’t yet arrived, I’m longing for the early blossoms that never fail to thrill. One of my favourites is the Lilac, and one of the best-ever locations to view them here in Essex County is at the east end of a country lane (Mersea Road One), where it dead-ends at the south-west edge of Hillman Marsh Conservation area:

On the left side of this image (the north side of the road) just beyond the grass verge, is one of the very deep ditches peculiar to this area, this one known as the West Marsh Drainage Scheme.  That “creek” is a great spot for Great Blue Heron and Great Egret watching!  On the right side of this image (the south side of the road), beginning just beyond the two telephone poles and continuing all the way to the marsh, is an enormous “hedge” of wild Lilac bushes.  In a few weeks they will be a sight to behold.

Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing
with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate,
with the perfume strong I love.^†

And that’s exactly their appeal, isn’t it — the perfume strong I love!  For about two weeks every spring, driving along Mersea 1 to get to, and home from, the marsh, the scent of the Lilac blossoms is almost more beautiful than the flowers themselves.  Honestly, it’s glorious, and I can’t wait for this year’s crop!  In the meantime…

Sincerest thanks to Terri for this most enjoyable weekly prompt.  Her Flowering Almond images are stunning and I strongly urge you to check out her blog post, you’ll not be disappointed, promise:

The Flower Hour #19: Almond Tree Blossoms

’Til next time, y’all…

^†Walt Whitman, Page 339, Book XXII “Memories of President Lincoln”, from his poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, from his anthology “Leaves of Grass”.