Where Lilacs Still Bloom

German immigrant, Hulda, lives in Washington just a short distance from Mt. St. Helens in a time period where little more was expected or a woman other than taking care of her family.  Hulda had a dream though.  From an apple orchard that would produce large easy-to-peel apples to bake pies for her family to daffodil bulbs to flowers, Hulda longed to make improvements on the plants she nurtured and was encouraged to do so by none other than her father.  One of her great desires was to hybridize a lilac, creating a creamy white color with twelve, not four, petals. She painstakingly pollinates the plants with a turkey feather and nurtures them.  Through natural disasters and death itself, Hulda perseveres and overcomes.

I originally ordered this book because of the title.  Lilacs were everywhere in my grandmother's yard and, therefore, became one of my favorites which now grace my yard.  Like the author has two lilacs from Hulda Klager's garden, so I have planted a number of them from my grandmother's collection.  While the title was the first thing to catch my attention, what I found was much more than a novel featuring my favorite flower. I found a story immersed in history and gardening--two of my favorite topics--and found a woman whose strength and vision were truly amazing.  And who could make a facinating story pour from a woman who was a gardener and perhaps a woman before her time?  None other than Jane Kirkpatrick, just as she did with A Daughter's Walk.

While based on fact, this is a story of fiction.  However, the story does make Hulda's life come alive in a way that makes me anxious for the blooming of my own plants and long for the scent of lilacs wafting through the air in the spring breeze.  If you are a gardener and lover of historical fiction, you will certainly enjoy Where Lilacs Still Bloom.

I did receive this book free from the publisher through Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.  I was, in no way, obligated to provide a positive review.