I love lilacs --

I grew up in Minnesota, and the first house we lived in had a row of huge lilac bushes that bordered our yard with our neighbors'.  In the spring, it was amazing, the profusion of blooms, the beautiful scent, the greenest of green leaves . . . 

 [Linkup to Weekend Texture Twist]

We can't grow lilacs in California -- maybe up in the Sierra foothills they can, but most other places it doesn't get cold enough in the winter for lilacs to do well.  People try, but they come out spindly and don't have much of a smell.

So I wait for the little flower place here to put out the sign:  "We have lilac!" and I hurry in to get them, because they disappear quickly.  They're not the best --  they're a little scraggly and the scent isn't strong, but I love them.  I've been waiting for days for them to open up enough to photograph, and while they're not quite there, I couldn't wait any more.  I hope these will be the first of a few lilac shots.

 [All textures from Flypaper Textures]

Note to my fellow photographers:  Jill and Paul at Flypaper Textures have come out with a new set -- the Spring Painterly pack.  They do beautiful work, gorgeous textures and colors.  On these two variations, I've used Citron Vert, Lemoncello, Naissant Border and Giverny -- I'm happy with the way they came out.

Which one works better for you?    Here are a couple more:

 

[Linkup to Your Sunday Best]