Lilacia Park

Today was rainy almost the entire day!  We fluctuated between a light drizzle and heavier rain and it was fairly cold as well!  I didn’t have much time for photography as I was catching up on desk work.  I thought I’d share some photos from my Sunday visit to Lilacia Park in Lombard, IL (Chicago suburb).  This 8.5 acre park (designed by famous landscape architect Jens Jensen and dedicated in 1928) has a massive lilac collection among other nice plantings.  I enjoyed the colorful visit albeit in a drizzle.  Ironically, I grew up not far from this park (Villa Park, IL) and didn’t appreciate it until later in life.  The park has an interesting history and Lombard is known as the “Lilac Village”.

Today involved lots of indoor projects with some outdoor activities between rain drops.  Our grounds staff included Larry H., Cindy, Janice, Shania (first day!) and me.  Our volunteers included Kathy P., Dr. Gredler, Steve, Jim, Vern, Maury, Dick P., Sandi, Barb C., Dennis, Gretchen, Peg, Ann R., Barb T., Sue S., Marcia N., Gary S. and some others.  It was a bummer to lose a day of active gardening but we didn’t have a real shortage of tasks at all!

‘Mandarin Lights’ azalea (Rhododendron) – woody shrub

beautiful old weeping mulberry (Morus alba ‘Pendula’) – woody tree

neat massing of creeping phlox (Phlox sp.) – perennial

peak blooms on blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) – woody tree

Bloomerang® Purple lilac (Syringa hybrida ‘Penda’) – woody shrub

‘Red Pixie’ lilac (Syringa hybrida) – woody shrub (above and below)

‘Pocahontas’ lilac (Syringa x hyacinthiflora) – woody shrub (above)

‘Leon Gambetta’ French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

variegated French lilac (Syringa vulgaris ‘Aucubaefolia’) – woody shrub

Tinkerbelle® lilac (Syringa hybrida ‘Bailbelle’) – woody shrub (above and below)

‘Karen’ lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula) – woody shrub (above)

‘Lois Amee Utley’ French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

‘Montaigne’ French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

‘Lilac Sunday’ lilac (Syringa x chinensis) – woody shrub (above and below)

‘Marie Frances’ French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

‘Wonder Blue’ French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

‘Josee’ lilac (Syringa hybrida) – woody shrub (above and below)

‘Charm’ lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – woody shrub

variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) – perennial

candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) – perennial

‘Antoinette’ tulip (Tulipa) – bulb