Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

May Blooms: Lilac, Dogwood, Azalea

lilac in bloom in Highland Park, New Jersey
It’s a lovely time of year in Highland Park, New Jersey. Lots of trees, bushes and flowers are in bloom, such as this lavender lilac. Did you grow up smelling lilacs in May? I remember them as a child growing up in Newton, Massachusetts; I would walk down the street and smell this lovely scent.

pink dogwood in Highland Park, New Jersey
This elegant dogwood is in my neighbor’s backyard. Several years back I painted a watercolor of this dogwood in bloom. My dogwood photo from 2008 seems to get a lot of pins on Pinterest.

azalea in Highland Park, New Jersey backyard
Azalea bushes are quite popular in Highland Park. This one is in my backyard. Give a few weeks and the blooms will be full and red. Others are pink or white. Azaleas like acidic soil – Highland Park, New Jersey soil cooperates. Tomatoes also do well. I’ve planted marigolds in my front yard – those have germinated. I’ve also seen the nasturtium seeds germinate (I planted those, too; the seeds look like shriveled chickpeas). My chamomile seeds were started in a little box – I’ve got those germinating as well. My hydrangea is still alive – it started to grow green leaves. Will it get munched right down by a deer like what happened last year? Or will I be rewarded with hydrangea blooms?

dogwood in front of lilac
Here are dogwood blooms in front of lilac blooms.

What’s in your backyard?

For more nature notes:
Nature Notes

Mary says

Beautiful blossoms! Would be nice to have the smell here too! :)

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bettyl - NZ says

These are some wonderful springtime colors. I adore dogwoods and love your older photo and painting.

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leoraw says

Thanks for looking at the older photo and painting.

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Karen, Pixel Posts says

What gorgeous spring blooms!

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Michelle@ramblingwoods says

You are ahead of where we are but I think my lilacs are a bit slow this year. They were my Grandmother's favorite and when I smell them, I think of her. Lovely blooms and colors Leora... Yea to spring...Michelle

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leoraw says

That is so nice to have a flower remind you of your grandmother.

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Freda says

Such beautiful spring blooms!

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EG CameraGirl says

It sure is looking spectacular right now!!

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A.K. Andrew says

Lovely photos - the dogwood particularly. I'm not familiar with it. We have roses and Rosy June and California poppies in our garden

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Eileen says

Very pretty images, leora! I love the lilacs, but they are all gorgeous blossoms.. Enjoy your week!

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Susan Cooper says

Aw, I do love flower images. I have been taking a ton of them myself. I never tire of them. :-)

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Lorri M. says

What beautiful images, and a lovely reminder of spring's beginnings. I love dogwood trees, and love azaleas, they are two of my favorite blossoms...reminding me of my childhood home on Long Island. The lilac capture is beautiful...I can almost smell the scent.

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Susan Cooper says

Aw, I do love the tree flowers of spring. My favorite had always been dogwood. My dogwood has bloomed and are long gone until next year.

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Sallie (FullTime-Life) says

These are great. We don't have spring flowers here in Florida . There are flowers but not the kind you show here - so these are all wonderful memories from when we lived in the Pacific Northwest. We had all of those in our yard in Oregon. Sweet memories. (I have to remind myself this time of year that the payoff for not having winter is not having any early spring. Its a fair trade, but I do miss my lilac bushes.) Your pictures are great; I almost feel like I'm surrounded by the aroma!!

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Donna@Gardens Eye View says

What a gorgeous time of year...stunning flowering trees.

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