Lilacs: Old World Shrubs With New Possibilities

A privacy row of lilacs that are probably decades old and in four different colors. ANDREW MESSINGER

A classic lilac in the classic lilac color. Young pencil-thick stems are the best for cuts, and thinning stems for cuts results in more flowering stems the following year. ANDREW MESSINGER

Several older and taller lilacs in the center of this perennial island provide afternoon (this is an early morning shot) shade to the hostas on the left. Miss Kim, on the right, is coming into full bloom as the older species to the left only has a few blooms remaining at the top. ANDREW MESSINGER

This lilac appears to have been pruned and thinned but not with thoughtfulness. Note the bushy bottom area versus the older and much taller stems and branches. Better planned pruning would have resulted in a more manageable shrub with the taller, older top branches being less likely to break in snow and ice. ANDREW MESSINGER

Lilacs suffering from a spring heavy, wet snowfall. Just a few damaged pieces, though, and the next day the shrub was back to its upright habit. ANDREW MESSINGER