founded in 1971

INTERNATIONAL LILAC SOCIETY

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Since the late 1920's, people from Illinois and all around the mid-west have come to enjoy Lilacia Park. Donated by Col. William and Helen Plum the Park contains over 200 Lilacs on 8.5 acreas. Lilac Time is celebrated from May 3 to 18, 2008

LILACIA PARK LOMBARD, ILLINOIS

Located about 50 miles north of Portland in the beautiful lake's area is one of Maine's gems, the McLaughlin Gardens.Founded 10 years ago to preserve the wonderful perennial gardens of Bernard McLauglin, the Gardens offer a fresh looks at New England gardens. The Garden's 11th Annual Lilac Festival is May 24-26, 2008, and includes garden tours, lectures on Lilac care and Lilacs for sale.

McLAUGHLIN GARDENS SOUTH PARIS, MAINE

One of America's most beautiful vacation destinations. No theme parks, no cars, no rush. A great place to wind down and appreciate the flora. Mackinac has hundreds if not thousands of Lilacs, many planted before the beginning of the 20th Century. Mackinac hosted the 1997 ILS Convention and will host it again in 2007. The link is to Mackinac's Tourist Bureau's site, which has links to everything you would want to know about the Island. The "59th Lilac Festival" runs from June 6th to June 15th, 2008

MACKINAC ISLAND MICHIGAN

Founded in 1872 on the outskirts of Boston, the "Arnold" is one of America's most distinguished arboretums. There are over 400 Lilacs and nearly 200 different varieties and cultivars among the thousands of tree species. The Society's own John "Jack" Alexander has been at the Arnold for many years and responsible for several new cultivars of Lilacs, including his latest, "Purple Haze". The Arnold hosts "Lilac Sunday" on May 11, 2008, dawm to dusk.

HARVARD'S ARNOLD ARBORETUM JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS HAMILTON, ONTARIO

Just outside Toronto lies one of the great treasures of Canada, the Royal Botanical Gardens. Located in Hamilton, the RBG is home to the Katie Osbourne Lilac Collection, the world's largest at over 800 different varieties and cultivars. The Lilac Festival is May 5-17 and 20-25, 2008 10A to 5P

The world's most visited Lilac Fesitval is at Highland Park, long a center of Lilac research and propagation. Highland Park has over 1200 lilacs and 500 varieties and cultivars spread over 22 acres. The Lilac Festival, started informally in 1888 and draws over 500,000 visitors is May 8 -18, 2008

HIGHLAND PARK ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

Hulda Klager came from Germany in 1865 as a 2 year old. At the time of her death in 1960 at the age of 97, the Klager farm had been named a National Historic Landmark. Planted with hundreds of lilacs, many are the plants that Hulda Klager propagated and produced. Site of the 2006 ILS Convention. The Klager celebrates the Lilac Festival April 21 to May 13, 2008, 10A to 4P.

HULDA KLAGER LILAC GARDENS WOODLAND, WASHINGTON

Located 2-3 hours east of Quebec City, in the City of La Malbaie, the village of Cap a l'Aigle, maintains one of the newest lilac parks. Started in 2002, the ILS made this the site of their 2003 convention. Cap a l'Aigle's festival is "Le Temps des Lilas" in mid-June.

CAP A L'AIGLE QUEBEC, CANADA

With nearly 500 Lilacs, this is the best places to see Lilacs in California. Located outside Los Angeles, the Gardens have been an important center of Lilac research and propagation. The Garden's lilac event is the "Spring Festival of Flowers", during March and April.

DESCANSO GARDENS LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE CALIFORNIA

Started in 1931 from a bequest from Albert Holden, the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio, is one of America's first class arboretums. The Arboretum is a great place to view lilacs, all 234 of them, while in the Cleveland area. There are currently no lilac events at the Holden, bloom is usually the month of May.

HOLDEN ARBORETUM KIRTLAND, OHIO

The Louisa Clark Spencer Lilac Collection is an important part of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, founded in 1910. Long a center of education and research, the BBG is a model of horticulture in an urban setting. There are 150 lilacs in the Garden, 20 different species and 130 different cultivars. We'll post bloom times/events as the dates become available.

BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDENS BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

The T.A. Havemeyer Lilac Collection is among the 50 gardens at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) situated on 250 acres in the Bronx. Called the "grand museum" of plants and yet a great place to "relax and rejuvenate", the NYBG has 90 different lilacs to view from mid-April to mid-May. We'll post bloom times/events as the dates become available.

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN BRONX, NEW YORK

The famous Farm from which Isabel Preston produced the Preston Lilacs in the 20's and 30's. Started in 1887, the Farm has over 700 Lilacs and more than 300 varities. It also has a great website and lilac pictures.  Friends of the Farm lead the "Lilac Tours" on May 24, 2008, the Farm is open and free during bloom time.

CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Just outside Burlington, VT, is one of America's premier Americana museums founded by the neice of Theordore Havemeyer (who created dozens of lilac cultivars). With over 225 lilacs on the grounds, this is one place you don't want to miss when visiting New England. Lilac Sunday is celebrated on May 18 from 9A to 5P, with talks by ILS's own Jeff Young, VT Master Gardener.

SHELBURNE MUSEUM SHELBURNE, VERMONT

Tucked away between busy Route 7 and million dollar homes, is "Vermont's Secret Garden", 99 acres belonging to the University of Vermont contain 9 stunning collections of plants including a lilac collection planted in the 1950's in four rows. ILS's Jeff Young is the Lilac Curator. Bloom Time is celebrated on May 17, 2008, and includes lilac tours and a plant sale. Check their website for other Lilac tours and events

UNIV OF VERMONT HORTICULTURE FARM SO BURLINGTON, VERMONT

KAWASHIMO PARK SAPPORO, JAPAN

Situated in the beautiful capital of Hokkaido, Japan, is Kawashimo Park. It contains an extensive lilac collection and great pictures on their website.