Cherry Blossums and Blooming Lilacs, Welcome Spring!

Cherry blossom
A cherry blossom is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus. The most well-known species is the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is commonly called sakura. They are widely distributed, especially in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere including Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Mainland China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Thailand and West Siberia

It’s easy to find lilacs and lilac bushes in North America. They seem to have always been in America, but actually are not native to the continent. They originate in Europe and Asia. European colonists first brought over their beloved lilac bushes to America in the 1750s. Lilacs are not only beautiful, but incredibly fragrant. Some people prefer the scent of lilacs to that of roses.

What Does the Lilac Flower Mean?
The lilac flower has many meanings, but most are related to expressing love or affection:

In Victorian times, giving a lilac meant that that the giver is trying to remind the receiver of a first love.
Lilacs can also express confidence that the giver has for the receiver. This makes lilacs a good gift for graduates.
A sprig of lilacs, especially white lilacs, symbolizes innocence.
Etymological Meaning of the Lilac Flower
In taxonomy, lilacs have their own genera called Syringa. So, for example, the common lilac is known as Syringa vulgaris. The English word lilac is stolen from the French and Spanish word lilac. Arab and Persian also has a remarkably similar word – lilak. The granddaddy of most European and Asian languages, Sanskrit, had a similar word nilah which means “dark blue” as a color and not necessarily as a flower. All of the other words for lilac are thought to have derived from nilah.

Symbolism of the Lilac Flower
Since lilacs are such versatile and ever-present flowers, it’s no surprise that they are a symbol many things such as:

Reminders of an old flame. In Victorian times, widows often wore lilacs.
Lilacs are often the first flowers to bloom when temperatures rise and only last a couple of weeks, so lilacs often symbolize spring.
In New Hampshire, lilacs are said to represent the “hearty character” of New Hampshire residents.
Lilac Flower Facts
Lilacs are so beloved that some towns compete over who loves lilacs best.

The Lilac capital of the world is Rochester, New York, home of the annual Lilac Festival.
Cornwall in the Canadian providence of Ontario also claims to be a major center for lilac lovers, with a lilac collection about as massive as the one in Rochester’s Highland Park.
Lilacs are the official state flower of New Hampshire.