Lilacs for the garden

Lilacs for the garden
By Jennifer Bennett
Firefly Books
$19.95, paperback

This 118-page homage to lilacs makes the unpretentious plant sound more like a well-loved family pet than a bush with ancestors from the mountainous region of Asia.

Bennett writes that the 20-odd species of lilacs are "undemanding and generous, the perfect guests," and encourages readers with enough sun, space and well-drained soil to plant one at once. Plain language — combined with Bennett's seemingly limitless lilac enthusiasm — makes caring for these hearty plants sound doable, even for readers with only a green-ish thumb. Striking color photographs illustrate the vast differences in lilac size and shade.

Within six chapters, Bennett describes species diversity, plant care, and disease treatment. For example, when planting a tiny twig of a lilac in the garden, make sure to place it where it will have plenty of room to grow. Bennett promises that tiny twig will be eight feet wide within four years and should not be planted within inches of a garden wall or fence. The book wraps up with seven pages of vendors who will sell lilacs through the mail, along with a list of informational websites and public lilac collections.