Huge French Lilac tree on Mackinac Island that is taller than the owner's house
We went on vacation this year to Mackinac Island and like everyone else, we took the ferry. As we came off the boat and into the village, I noticed that the buildings were old but very well kept. Most of the businesses and many of the houses had flowers planted in their yards which only added to the island’s beauty. Then, seeing all the horse drawn carriages made me feel like I had just stepped back in time. We were told there were no motorized vehicles except for a fire truck and the ambulance anywhere on the island which only added to the historic feel.
My sister and I had a great time checking out the old houses and their various gardens and discussing how we thought their plants might do in our home gardens. We also kept noticing some shrubby trees that looked like they might be lilacs except they were much too big. They were at least 2-3 times larger than any lilac I had ever seen.
Later that day when we took the carriage ride around the island, we pointed out one of those “big lilacs” and asked our driver its name. He said they were the original French Lilacs that had been planted in the 1700s by the French. Now, I am not sure if the ones we saw were really the original lilacs, but they were definitely very old and exceptionally large. I wondered if it was the climate or something special in the soil that made the difference or if all lilacs just keep growing larger and taller if they are not pruned back.
Since our vacation was in early September, the lilacs were no longer flowering but I could just image how fragrant the whole island would smell when they were in bloom. Now that I am back home, I am determined to plant a lilac or two in our yard to add that lilac smell to our spring garden.
Old French Lilac stump with tree growing from back
As a side note: Our carriage driver told us that they have people who clean up the streets after the horses and all of the manure gets taken to a central compost site on the island. Then as the compost is finished, island gardeners use it in their yards. Maybe that is the secret to to growing giant lilacs!
We had a huge French lilac in our garden in England. It was the biggest “tree” in our yard. Emma and her friends climbed it all the time.
Very nice description of the Island and of the French Lilacs. I was doing some pruning today on one of my French Lilacs and thought about the ones we saw.