Helen Rosner writes about the scent of lilac bushes when she was growing up in the Midwest, and about the social-media influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson, a.k.a. BlackForager, whose tutorial on how ...

The lilac, Syringa vulgaris, starting to flower right now, is certainly old-fashioned, but in the nicest possible way. The Edwardians adored them and thought every garden should have one.

Both festivals draw in thousands of visitors taking in the beauty of Michigan. You can find the guide to Tulip Time’s 2025 lineup here and Lilac Festival’s 2025 lineup here.

Syringa x chinensis Lilac Sunday’s flower clusters form along the stem’s length, creating the illusion of longer inflorescences. Image. Pink-colored Syringa x hyacinthiflora Esther Staley.