THE LILAC ZONE
As I said in other areas of this site, out of respect for the privacy of others, I am not going to mention names of specific people or even nurseries that have helped me to build my collection unless they have given me the go-ahead to do so. In this age of digital media, it sometimes surprises me when people do not take advantage of the power of the Internet, but I have to respect their decision to not utilize it, as it certainly is their choice. That being said, I do want to give a shout-out to those nurseries that pride themselves in selling only true-to-name lilacs, in thanks for the role that they have played in helping me to build my collection. The least I can (and want to) do is promote these businesses to others, as their dedication to maintaining integrity in the lilac trade is commendable and appreciated.
Nurseries that I would recommend include:
Lavender Lady Lilac Nursery
This nursery is located in New York and actually has more lilacs available than the website currently lists. The owner is a very nice individual and he truly cares about his customers and the quality of the plants that he supplies. When I ordered from him, he voiced his concern about shipping the lilac that I wanted during the summer, given that the potential heat could make it problematic, but watched the weather and shipped it at a time that allowed it to arrive healthy and in great condition.
Hope Springs Nursery (http://www.hopespringsnursery.com)
This nursery is owned by a lovely lady who I met at an International Lilac Society auction. She clearly loves lilacs, has a good number of different varieties available and is constantly looking for more to add to her inventory, which is always a great thing to see. Her lilacs are of great quality, have great root systems and she does a great job of packing them for shipments.
Fox Hill Lilac Nursery (http://www.lilacs.com)
This nursery located in Maine is run by a guy that balances this business with another full-time job. God Bless him for being able to successfully do that for quite a few years now. His dedication to selling true-to-name varieties has been evident in both his words and actions. I have purchased a number of lilacs from him and have enjoyed giving him my business when possible because I really like his unique approach in running his nursery and in how he treats his customers. He has gone out of his way to help me obtain some hard-to-find lilacs when he certainly didn't need to. That always makes a great impression on me and I have enjoyed interacting with him.
Coldwater Pond Nursery (http://www.coldwaterpond.com)
The owner of this nursery is a kind individual with a heart of gold. He obviously cares about lilac preservation, which is evident by participating in lilac "rescue" efforts to help to ensure the continuing existence of certain cultivars. What is even better is that his nursery sells more than just lilacs, but also some woody ornamentals of which are not commonly found!
I also want to take the time to thank everybody that has helped me in one way or another in establishing my collection!
First and foremost, I would like to thank "LB", as without him and his family, the collection would not be what it is. They have been incredibly generous and patient with me, as I built my collection. I wish him well on his retirement!
There are many others as well that have taken time out of their personal lives to help me. Considering that most of the time when I have received help, I was essentially a stranger to them, they offered to help nonetheless with really nothing to gain in return. They are truly incredible people and I appreciate all of the efforts that they took (and some still take!) to aid me in locating and obtaining some of the less common cultivars!