Where Lilacs Still Bloom

It's spring, and I'm enjoying my first real garden ever, and it's in the dream house I live in with my sweet husband. So, reading the back of "Where Lilacs Still Bloom" by Jane Kirkpatrick, it seemed like the perfect time to give it a try. At the center of the story are the flowers. Hulda, a German immigrant, lives in a small Oregon town. She has a talent for seeing the potential in plants...first she grafts two apple plants together to produce a new breed that is larger and easier to peel for pie. She next sets her sights on creating a creamy white lilac with 12 petals (they usually have four). Over the decades as her flowers evolve, she shares cuttings with dozens of visitors to start their own gardens. On the East Coast, a young new bride delves into horticulture to unlock a deeper connection with her new husband, a devoted horticulturalist. And in California, an aspiring writer develops a passion for plants to help her column readers better care for their gardens. The climax (and the flowers) bring the three women together, but the end of the book will bring tears to your eyes. Hulda's town is at the crux of two rivers, prone to flooding. When Hulda loses all her lilacs (and her belongings) in a devastating floods, offspring from the thousands of cuttings she shared over the years pour in. Along with her family, Hulda, now in her 80s, replants the lilacs. Just before her death, she uncovers her prized cream lilac with its 12 petals. You can't help but cheer for her. Based on a true story, this book captures you with its tenderness and perseverance. Kirkpatrick is new author to me, and I guarantee I'll read her stories again.