My mom always loved lilacs. Every spring, the intoxicating aroma would fill her apartment from the cuttings. When I graduated from college, I remember walking to the hotel where my mom was staying with a handful of lilacs I had clipped from a neighbor. By the time I arrived, I could hardly breathe from holding the blossoms up to my nose the whole way. But I made my mom very happy when I walked into her hotel room with my bouquet. I tried planting a couple of lilac bushes in Cleveland but they did not take.
When we moved to Webb Acres, a sweet smelling plant was needed to welcome spring. I see lilacs for sale in Texas but I am skeptical they would do well in Texas. I lived in Greece my junior year of college and remembered how the smell of jasmine permeated the streets of Athens each spring. I bought jasmine and attempted to train the vines to grow along the porch rails. I was not very successful.
One day at Lowe’s, I saw gardenia plants and decided to buy one. I planted it behind our screened porch next to the carport. Every year, my gardenia grows a bit larger and blossoms more flowers. I tried clipping the blossoms once and bringing them into the house but they only lasted a day. So I sit under my car port each morning, inhale the sweetness as I enjoy my coffee and toss the ball to tire Winnie. I smile when I come home and inhale the sweetness as I open the car door, climb the steps and walk through the porch.
I love my gardenias.
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