Lilacs

Greetings, group:

We have a white and a lilac-colored lilac. Both big old bushes, which DO
grow in quite a bit of shade, but which usually produce enough blooms for
me to be able to cut a bouquet or two and still have a bit of a show in
the yard. This spring, following a very snowy but relatively mild winter,
I expected a proliferation of blooms, but on inspection I find
approximately one flower scape (?) on the lilac lilac and approx. 3 on the
white one--not showing any color as yet. They were getting so overgrown
last summer that I did attempt a light pruning. Is that the problem? With
lilacs, do you always sacrifice the next year's flowers when you prune? We
never feed them either--should we?

Another factor is that we both recall that last spring there was a very
cold snap at the wrong time and the flowers were totally ruined. But that
was last year. Come to think of it, we haven't seen any other lilacs
getting ready to bloom in town either, but it may be a bit early. Don't
they usually bloom at the same time as the Viburnum carlesii? (That is in
full bloom now, for us and is glorious. Last spring it suffered frost
damage also.)

Any tips on growing lilacs in shade and GETTING THEM TO BLOOM PROLIFICALLY
will be appreciated!

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6
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