I’m obsessed with the purple Lilac bushes in my yard this spring. I’ve never noticed how beautiful Lilac blooms can be, or how sweet they smell. It’s been a beautiful ‘bloom’ this spring for all our trees, bushes and perennials. Everyday when I see all the blooms, it makes me oh so happy.

Unfortunately, Lilacs bloom for only a very brief couple weeks in the spring. Here’s some tips for growing and picking Lilacs…and decorating with them in your home or at an event.

1. Make sure your Lilac is getting plenty of sun and in fertile soil. If you do not have blooms, try feeding them a bloom booster. You can find lilacs in shades of purple, pink or white.

2. Pick the blooms freely…actually the more you cut, they say the more blooms for next year. To cut correctly, cut above a node, the bumpy spot on branches where new branches will form.

3. Find a large vase, small vintage vase, or basket and arrange your Lilacs, then place in a spot in your home that you will see frequently…I promise, fresh beautiful blooms and their sweet-smelling fragrance will make you happy.

4. It is best to prune your Lilac bush after flowering, most likely in the spring. Don’t wait until the end of the summer or fall to prune this bush. According to Country Living, Lilacs grow on old wood, so the later you prune, the more old wood you prune and the less blooms will grow next year.

5. Though other bushes may only require that the tops of the stems be cut, it’s better to cut the entire stem off the lilac.

To learn how to make a DIY bouquet like the one below, follow these tips at Project Wedding…

{images via Elizabeth Anne Designs, Oh So Beautiful Paper, Project Wedding, Martha Stewart, Your Cozy Home and Pinterest}