Lilacs: The Genus Syringa by John L. Fiala
Father John L. Fiala devoted 10 years to this book, a unique treatise that is both a scholarly monograph and a personal tribute to the beauty of lilacs. Since going out of print, it has become almost impossible to obtain at a reasonable price. Sometime in the future a revision and expansion of his work will appear, but in the meantime we have released this facsimile paperback reprint in response to extraordinary demand. It includes the 398 color photographs from the first edition and makes Fr. Fiala's work again accessible. Editorial Reviews Review His exuberant affection for both gardeners and lilacs and his authoritative voice make this tome of information a kind of intimate, learned travel guide through the heady world of lilacs. -Anne Raver, New York Times, January 18, 2002 [D]o not let the encyclopedic nature of the book intimidate you?this is no dry read...For the cultivar descriptions, the accompanying photos, the updated taxonomic treatment, and the history and tales, this is a book that belongs on every lilac lover's bookshelf. Book Description We are planning a revision and expansion of this classic Timber Press first published in 1988, but in the meantime we will release this facsimile paperback reprint in response to extraordinary customer demand. Book Description We are planning a revision and expansion of this classic Timber Press first published in 1988, but in the meantime we will release this facsimile paperback reprint in response to extraordinary customer demand. About the Author John L. Fiala (1924-1990) introduced 78 lilac cultivars, wrote a definitive encyclopedia on lilacs, and founded the International Lilac Society. He significantly improved the color and performance of these plants. For his hybridizing achievements he was awarded the Thomas Roland Medal in 1980 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Lilacs, to the botanists called Syringa, have a fascinating history when one considers their origins, their great variety and the migrations that have made them at home in all the colder regions of the earth. They are not children of the very warm climates nor of the tropical sun. They are natives, mountain dwellers, of the colder regions requiring a length of cold weather to set their fat buds for bloom. Recent experiments show that they will grow in some of the southerly regions where frost and drought are minimal. They are best where winters are cold but not arctic. All the 23 species, more or less accepted today, have marvelous tales to tell of their native lands and the progress made in their development as garden shrubs. Some, like the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, are well knowny by almost every gardener and loved for their beauty, fragrance and dependability. The other species, beautiful in their own way, are far less known and most would not be recognized by many people as belonging to the family of lilacs. By careful examination and consideration of each classification we shall seek, as we unfold this unique lilac family history, to appreciate the beauty they bring to gardens throughout the world. By understanding them, knowing them well and seeing their ease of culture, we shall find them both a garden and a mainstay of beauty in our landscapes. In Greek legend the nymph Syrinx was pursued by the god Pan and turned into a hollow reed from which Pan made his first flute or pan-pipe. The name Syringa derives from the Greek word 'syrinx' meaning 'hollow stem'. One of the first names for the lilac in English was the 'Pipe Tree' or 'Blow Stem'. We are told ancient Greek doctors used its stem to inject medications into their patients or to bleed them. 'Pipe Tree' was an old English namen for both Syringa vulgaris and Philadelphus coronarius. John Claudius Loudon, the English botanist (1783-1843), stated in his famous work on trees and shrubs that the best Turkish pipes were made from the straight stems of the lilac. The name 'pipe-stem' did not prevail for so lovely a shrub. Everywhere today it is known by some form of the word 'lilac' (perhaps from the Persian 'Lilak' or 'Lilaf' meaning bluish); 'Lilas' in French; 'der Flieder' or more rarely 'Lilak' in Germany; 'Holler' in Viennese; 'Lilza' in Portugal; while in Spain it is 'Lila'. The old English called it 'Laylock', 'Lilack' or 'Lilock'. Although we know it universally by some form of the common name 'Lilac', the botanical name Syringa prevails whenever we speak of it in scientific terms. Photo above:Close-up flower details of the Early Hybrid 'Fenelon' shows a masterpiece of delicate shades of pink. This S. X hyacinthiflora (using S. oblata 'Giralidii') was introduced by V. Lemoine & Fil in 1938. Still little known and appreciated except in larger collections it is a work of sheer loveliness for any garden. It is a tall grower, needs room and heavy pruning. Truly one of the earliest harbingers of springtime!
Publication Details
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Binding: Paperback
Published by: Timber Press, Incorporated: , 2002
Edition:
ISBN: 9780881925302 | 0881925306
372 pages.
Book Condition: Very Good
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