The Farmington Woman's Club hosted their monthly board meeting and social on May 16.
The featured speaker was Guy Giunta, Jr., the Commission Chairman of the Governor's Lilac and Wildflower Commission. He is the Landscape Specialist Supervisor for the N.H. Department of Transportation. He gave an excellent presentation with slides showing various highway plantings, the Governor Wentworth house, pruning techniques, proper planting, and varieties of lilacs. The purple lilac became New Hampshire's official State flower in 1919. Mr. Giunta was a humorous and knowledgeable speaker who made learning about lilacs very interesting.
Did you know there are 20 Lilac Species, 15 Lilac Species (Hybrids), over 1500 named lilac varieties? Lilacs have 2 centers of origin, Eastern Europe and the Orient. The oldest lilacs in New Hampshire date back to at least 1750. These were purple lilacs that were imported from England and were located at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth. The purple lilac, Syringa vulgaris,was adopted as the state flower of New Hampshire in 1919. That year the legislature considered many bills and amendments promoting the apple blossom, purple aster, wood lily, Mayflower, goldenrod, wild pasture rose, evening primrose and buttercup as potential state flowers. After a long and lively debate regarding the relative merits of each flower, the purple lilac was chosen because it represented the hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State.
Purple lilacs may be seen throughout New Hampshire on private and public lands having been planted by many generations of citizens. Beautiful and fragrant blossoms in a wide range of colors appear in May of each year. The Governor’s Lilac Commission was established by Governor John H. Sununu in 1984 to promote extensive planting of lilac’s throughout the State. It encourages the efforts of many individuals and groups to be involved in establishing our State Flower on public lands for all to enjoy. The Governor’s Lilac Commission provides plant materials and recommends cultural practices for growing lilacs to insure the best possible results. In an effort to help beautify New Hampshire’s highways, the Commission has taken on the additional responsibility of purchasing and assisting in planting wildflowers. Because of these efforts, Governor Stephen Merrill renamed the Commission on August 1, 1995.
The Governor's Lilac and Wildflower Commission partners with New Hampshire garden clubs, schools, youth groups, and other public organization to promote planting of lilacs and wildflowers throughout the state.
Governor's Lilac and Wildflower Commission
http://www.nh.gov/lilacs/lilacs/index.htm
