The Scent: Beautiful spring flowers, driving by it perhaps, a quick burst of intense, almost overwhelming, scent...We're in danger of some "purple prose" here, we know. But, we do love it. Lilac grows as a shrub or small tree up to 20 feet in height producing a crowd of erect stems, clothed with spirally arranged flakes of bark.

The Inspiration: It is covered with smooth shoots and leaves, usually heart-shape and 2 to 6 inches long. Our concern, however, is with the fragrance and unforgettable flowers.