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Being a gardener doesn’t stop for most of us even when we travel. I was in New York State visiting in Rochester recently and of course was interested in the looking at the local gardens and parks. It is a beautiful state with lots of forests and trees that would have soon been turning color. It would be great to see it at that time. The zoning in the area I visited was 6-7 and the gardens and foliage was fairly similar to the coastal region here in BC.
One thing I did notice was a lot of yards had the Rose of Sharon shrub either as a focal point or often as a hedge. Of course it was fairly noticeable since they are in bloom now.
Highland Park was a really impressive spot, and has an annual lilac festival that must be seen to be believed. I would love to go and see it. Apparently they don’t set the exact date for the 10-day festival until they know when the lilacs will start to bloom. In 1888 nurserymen George Ellwanger and Patric Barry endowed the Rochester community with 20 acres of land, now known as Highland Park. A beautiful display of shrubs and trees created what became the nations first Municipal arboretums. Frederick Law Olmstead, renowned park designer was responsible for the final development of the park.
John Dunbar started the lilac collection in 1892 with 20 varieties, some of which were descendants of slips of native Balkan Mountain flowers carried to the New World by colonists. Today over 500 varieties of lilacs cover 22 of Highland Parks 155 acres. There are over 1,200-plus lilac bushes from deepest purple to pure white. It is apparently the largest celebration of its kind. In 1898 it was attended by 3.000 people and today a half million people attend. The festival is largely free, and includes many other May blooming flowers and a large variety of entertainment. The park was fabulous at the end of summer; I can’t begin to imagine how incredible it would be in the spring.
Rochester was originally a grain milling city with an incredible waterfall, and water wheels and grinding wheels that are still on display. It was called the flour city, but now with the popularity of the lilac festival it is known as the flower city. I am hoping to be able to return in the spring and see the lilacs in all their glory.
Lindi Karmason 2007 October
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