This is Lilac Loving time. We have been waiting a year for it and it is finally here. The hardy varieties that came with the pioneers have adapted especially well in Spokane County. Many cultivars are also showcased in gardens in our area. I have a white one called Pocahontas. It is an adorable double-flowered variety that looks like a cloud when it is flowering.

There is also a variety introduced by the Spokane Lilac Society in 2005 called Spokane. It is a large shrub with dark purple flowers that fade to pale lilac. Lilacs are not just lavender and purple anymore, there are also light bl...