By JACKIE HENRY
Managing Editor
jhenry@cherryroad.com

It was a foggy morning this past weekend. As I sat on my front porch, having some much-needed coffee, I watched as the fog seemed to come and go. Using a neighbor’s tree as my vantage point, I could see the tree practically disappear from the fog only to reappear just a bit later.

I call our neighborhood a little “nature center.” Squirrels are always running along the electrical wires, their mouths bulging with walnuts or chasing each other around the trees. Rabbits are always hopping all around. And, several different species of birds come to the feeders, including my favorites, Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal!

Then it hit me! That most unmistakable smell of lilacs. That smell that you look forward to every spring to remind you that winter is now over. The smell was wonderful. But, it isn’t springtime. Each day looks more and more like fall.

I pinpointed where the smell was coming from. My neighbors, Don and Patty Barcus’ lilac bush was in full bloom. It had several bunches of white and purple flowers and it smelled divine.

I took a couple of photos of this wonder before my eyes. Of course, I posted my findings on Facebook and Instagram. As I read through several comments, people were going out to look at their lilac bushes to see if they had blooms. Most people found none. One Facebook friend said she had her lilac bush for 22 years and it only ever bloomed in the spring, however, the bush had more blooms on it right now than she had ever seen. Some people talked about others who had mentioned their lilac bushes were blooming. And, everyone was so surprised to see and hear this. I know this was the first time I had seen this happen in my life!

So, I had to Google it. I found out that occasionally, spring-blooming shrubs and trees, like lilac, crabapple, magnolia or forsythia will bloom out of season during the fall months. This out-of-season bloom is usually triggered by stressful environmental conditions during the summer growing season such as heat, drought, severe defoliation from disease or pest, and/or heavy pruning.

It is not typical to have spring-blooming shrubs like lilac produce blooms while pumpkins are in season. These spring-blooming plants set their flower buds for the following year in early summer shortly after the previous spring blooms fade. Stressful conditions put the plant in a dormant-like state and when the cooler temperatures and shorter days of fall arrive, some of the flower buds are triggered to bloom.

Unfortunately, we have had a very dry summer with many hot days. This must be the stressful environment that the lilacs have endeavored this year.

However, the pleasant smell of lilacs and the pretty blooms all over the tree were very welcoming.