For many of us, Memorial day is a day off to complete a three-day weekend to kick off the summer.

As we’re going about celebrating, and doing our spring time chores, let’s realize Memorial Day is for remembering those who have given up their lives in service to our free country. Three years after the end of the Civil War, Decoration Day was established as a time for American citizens to decorate the graves of its fallen soldiers with flowers. Those in charge of creating Decoration Day selected May 30th as the date, in order for the greatest amount of flowers to be in bloom across the country. Now we call it Memorial Day and it is still a favorite time for individuals to visit family cemetery plots to place flowers. Learning to use specific flowers for specific meanings can help us all in this process of remembering and celebrating. I think it’s great that we have so many lilacs in bloom this weekend here in the inland northwest! Check out this little tidbit…

https://www.ftd.com/blog/share/lilac-meaning-and-symbolism
Jun 8, 2016 – White lilacs symbolize purity and innocence. Violet lilacs symbolize spirituality. Blue lilacs symbolize happiness and tranquility. Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion. Lilac, the color for which this flower is named, is a light purple that symbolizes a first love.

We’ll be out in the garden 2 – 5 Sat. and Sunday  and 10-5 on Monday doing Volunteer Learning sessions (see the intern page) and giving away lilacs…Come join us!