bend wyatt one crop

bend wyatt one crop

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Welcome to the Lilac Garden!

The 'Hulda Klager' Lilac Garden in Woodland Washington.

Hulda Klager was two years old when her parents brought her to America from Germany in 1865.
The family moved to Woodland and purchased a farm in 1877.
This is the home today.

Even though Hulda was busy with the demands of home, marriage and family, she was able to make time for her flowers.
While recovering from an illness in 1903, she received a book about plant propagation.
Her first tests began with an apple tree at the farm. She successfully crossed a mild Wolf River
apple with a sour, juicy Wild Bismarck apple, creating a larger fruit that took less time to pare.

Her work with Lilacs began in 1905.


By 1910 she had 14 new varieties to share.
In 10 years she had enough new varieties to host first open house, which she continued until 1960.
 
In 1948 her home and farm were flooded for some 6 weeks. Virtually all of Hulda's work was destroyed. But at age 83, she wasn't about to be defeated by a little water and went to work restoring the gardens. Many of the people who had previously acquired lilacs from Hulda, sent her starts to replace those she lost. Working hard for the next two years, she was able to restore her gardens and resume her open house.
After Hulda's death, when a local garden club heard her legacy was in danger of being plowed under for a housing development, the 'Hulda Klager Lilac Society' was formed.
The Society strives not only to preserve her Lilac heritage, but provide visitors the opportunity to experience the tranquility of a pioneer garden.
"Lilac Days" Open House is celebrated annually from mid April through Mothers Day.

Stanzie displays her new scarf from the gift shop!


and YES, lilac plants are for sale there!
Here are some of the varieties that Hulda developed:
Alice Christensen

My Favorite

Fritz Klager

Pink Elizabeth

True Pink

Thank you Hulda, your legacy lives on!
Wyatt

Posted by Wyatt at

30 comments:

  1. FiveSibesMomMay 3, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Pretty spring pics - love Stanzie in her new pretty scarf!

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  2. Teddy BearMay 3, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    What an amazing lady. Stanzie looks beautiful on her new scarf.:)

    Love,
    Teddy Bear & Sierra

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  3. Two French BulldogsMay 3, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Love the story, pictures and of course the scarf model
    Benny & Lily

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  4. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    Those are beautiful flowers. Stanzie looks gorgeous with her new scarf!

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  5. Bella Roxy & MacduiMay 4, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    Incredible woman and gorgeous lilacs!

    XXXOOO Daisy, kendra & Bella

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  6. DukeMay 4, 2011 at 2:28 AM

    You look gorgeous in your lilac scarf, Stanzie! Boy, would our mom ever love to visit this lilac garden!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  7. RobMay 4, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    The Lilac's are really nice, one of my favourites.

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  8. Alasandra, The Cats and DogsMay 4, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    What a marvelous and heartwarming story and what beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. 3 doxiesMay 4, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    I bet I might be related to her since she is from Germany.
    What a fascinating story and beautiful lilacs.
    My mum wants a place likes dat.

    Puddles

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  10. Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and MomMay 4, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    Oh Momma is a snifflin yet again. When she lived in Michigan, she had da Lilacs all over da place and loved dem so much. Here in Florida it's too hot to grow Lilacs and Momma is sad!

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  11. Cyndi and StumpyMay 4, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    Lilacs are sooooooo wonderful! It just doesn';t seem like spring, without the scent of lilac wafting though the air! When we get to the PNW to visit you and Stanzie, we'll plan to visit when we can also visit the Hulda Klager Lilac Society.

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  12. Frankie Furter and ErnieMay 4, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    STANZI.. you look LOVELY in Lilacs...

    This was such a very much interesting post. I loved every word.

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  13. Beyond the Dog DishMay 4, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    Fascinating! I love gardening but do not know much on flowers history. Lilacs are my favourite. Currently we have 3 special ones - all made from cuttings of very old lilac bushes from my husbands Grandparents garden - makes them extra special to us.

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  14. ♥I am Holly♥May 4, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    What a wonderful story! We love lilacs very much. We have one bush in our yard and when it blooms, it is so beautiful. I wish we had more! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

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  15. Kari in AlaskaMay 4, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Lilacs smell so good but they make my nose itch after more than 5 minutes :(

    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com

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  16. Elizabeth KeeneMay 4, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    I love lilacs! My four just dropped their petals, but before then, my back yard smelled heavenly. :)

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  17. ♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥May 4, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    Wyatt, Mom so enjoyed this post - she loves lilacs but they really give Dad the sneezies, so we have none here. All those different varieties are so beautiful. What an incredible woman Hulda was - thanks for sharing her story and her homestead.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  18. Amber-MaeMay 4, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    That is just SO cool!!! The house still looks fabulous after SO many decades! That's just incredible.

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  19. ScooterMay 4, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Very nice. Lilacs are my moms favorite flower and her favorite color~~purple!! We love the smell of em too!!

    wags
    Jazzi

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  20. George The LadMay 4, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    Oh a lovely post, I didn't know there are so many different ones, on my morning walk we go passed Lilacs and the smell is lovely.
    Hey Stanzie is it OK to have that photo of you for my side bar ;)you look so pretty in your new scarf, you look pretty to me without it to.
    Love and hugs
    George xxx

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  21. fromsophiesviewMay 4, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    This is remarkable. I just love to hear stories like this about the perseverance to establish gardens and to maintain them. I watch a program called "Recreating Eden" which tells many stories like this one. If you ever have a chance to see the TV show make sure you watch the series. Spectacular. Thanks for this. Happy Lilacs!

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  22. RykerMay 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I can almost smell them!

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  23. HokeMay 4, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    Hey there!! THey just planted lilac bush in my yard...i water it every morning...and my aim is pretty good:)

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  24. jenMay 4, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    Wow! That is so neat, great history and beautiful flowers!!

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  25. The Daily Pip May 4, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    Wow, that's an amazing and inspiring story! I can almost smell the lilacs looking at those pictures. I had no idea there were so many varieties.

    Your pal, Pip

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  26. AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    This is in Washington?? I have never ever heard of this place. Lilac's are my favorite flower. I will have to check it out.

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  27. AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    Good ol' Hulda! Such beautiful flowers she produced! I'm thinkin my favorite is My Favorite :D

    Stanzie you look marvelous in your new lilac scarf :)

    Thanks for sharing the story. Much fun :)

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

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  28. JanetMay 5, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    Gorgeous lilacs! I wish I could smell them all. I love the smell of lilacs.

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  29. Road Dog TalesMay 9, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Oh, my! Lovely lilacs! Stanzie looks bee-yoo-ti-ful in her scarf!

    The Road Dogs

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  30. umaroyJune 19, 2013 at 4:59 AM

    I like this intrigues. I just love to hear stories like this about the perseverance to establish gardens and to maintain them. I watch a program called "Recreating Eden" which tells many stories like this one. If you ever have a chance to see the TV show make sure you watch the series
    sell my home.

    ReplyDelete

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