Sunshine & Lilac

Hasn’t the weather this last week or so been amazing?

Physically, I’m not really a sun worshipper. I’m pale and I burn in about 3 minutes, my rosacea doesn’t like it and sometimes I get heat rash. But who cares?! Because on every other level, the sun is just life-giving and full of joy. Particularly at this time of year, it just makes everything look more beautiful and full of vitality.

I lost my Grandma in March, I’m not quite sure how to talk about that grief yet. But I do know that these sunny days have absolutely helped me through it. Partly because it has allowed me to spend a lot of time outside in my garden. I’ve had time and energy to plant new seeds, create new spaces and fully appreciate what we have living and growing within our own home.

At this time of year, our lovely lilac tree is in full bloom and the purple flowers look so striking in contrast with its green leaves, and especially so with a clear blue sky as a background. Its scent is strongest when it benefits from full sun, and the soft aroma just adds a whole other level of sensory joy to the garden combined with its visual beauty and the sound of the birds and the bees.

Lilac is strongly connected with love and innocence, and is also traditionally linked with spirituality, the otherworld and psychic connection.

For me it has certainly helped me to connect with those things. It has been a clear reminder that we are more than just a physical presence. Lilac may be a great pollinator and have a clear physical purpose on the earth, but it’s beauty and scent evoke strong emotions and that is equally as valuable. After some difficult weeks, it has helped to remind me of what I love, the love in my life and the magic of nature. Feeling the sense of calm it brings when sitting nearby, I can’t help but feel strongly connected to spirit and the sense that there is so much more than meets the eye to what is around us.

When I feel a connection to a plant, I want to learn all I can about it, so I’ve been doing some research and found that the flowers are edible. So many plants in our gardens have culinary uses that are forgotten or underused. The scent of lilac also means the flowers are an obvious choice for using in infusions, beauty products or baths, and for home scents.

For now, I think I may pick just a few and bring them inside to enjoy their smell even more. And then start experimenting with some new ideas! I’ll let you know how it works out!