Lilacs bloom on Mackinac Island, bringing with them a debonair purple hue and a sweet, elegant perfume that ushers in summer in northern Michigan.
The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, now in its 74th year, will draw tourists from all over the world to celebrate the blossoming of the more than 250 different varieties of lilacs that can be found on the island and whose plants have survived there for more than 200 years!
When Do the Lilacs Start to Bloom on Mackinac Island?
In the middle to end of May, the Mackinac Island Lilac begins to blossom. About two weeks pass while these blooms are in bloom. There are, however, cultivars that bloom early, mid, and late, giving us a 6-week bloom viewing window!
That gives you plenty of time to travel to Mackinac Island, the crown jewel of the Great Lakes, to see the lovely purple blossoms, but you’ll want to make sure to schedule your trip for the island lilac festival.
We are providing all the information you require regarding the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival. Learn more about the event, how to travel to the island, how to navigate the island once you are there, and where to stay on Mackinac Island.
Start making travel arrangements by reading on, and ask any questions you have in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
On Mackinac Island, how are the lilacs doing?
Every summer, the 10-day Mackinac Island Lilac Festival ushers in the season with a burst of flower beauty and aroma. But why are Mackinac Island’s lilacs so gorgeous?
However, the history of the island’s lilacs dates back much further than the 1949 event. Lilacs are not indigenous to Mackinac or the rest of the Western Hemisphere. Instead, flowers were brought to the island, and Jeff Young, a professional gardener and University of Vermont instructor who acts as horticultural for the island’s Lilac Festival, says the best hypothesis is that they initially arrived with the Hubbard family from New Hampshire.
Lilacs were brought to New England by European immigrants, who placed them close to their farms as a good luck charm. Therefore, the Hubbards planted lilacs when they relocated to Mackinac and started farming on the western side of the island.
In the vicinity of the farm, which was later converted into cottages in a location known as Hubbard’s Annex, there are some lilac stems that are about 100 years old and are the progeny of older stems that were also about 100 years old. Lilacs were first introduced to Mackinac some 200 years ago. Young is unaware of any older or larger stems in either Canada or the United States.
Lilacs have thrived on the island for the past 200 years. Despite not being native to the island of Mackinac, the plants thrive in the shallow, well-drained soil that has a high pH due to the underlying limestone. The lilacs in Mackinac are now the largest in the nation, with some stems measuring more than two feet across at the base, thanks to sufficient rainfall and a proper hardening each winter.
The size of the lilacs in Mackinac astounds horticulturists who visit because they don’t see them that huge elsewhere.
In the late 1800s, when more people established homes on Mackinac, lilacs followed them. After World War II, the Lilac Festival was established to draw more tourists to the island. The state park, local businesses, and residents all planted lilacs.
Now, lilacs are in bloom and you can smell their pleasant fragrance wherever you walk on Mackinac.
“It is impossible to find a better setting of lilacs anyplace in the nation because they are incorporated into every aspect, according to Young. “On the island, there is nowhere you can walk without seeing them and taking in their beauty. It surpasses all botanical gardens in quality.
The acclaimed Taste of Mackinac gourmet festival, a horse-drawn grand parade, a costumed dog and pony parade, a 10k run/walk, the crowning of the Lilac Festival queen, and other events are all part of the annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival.
In Michigan, are lilacs in bloom?
In northern Michigan, the sweet, aromatic perfume of blooming lilac bushes filling the air is one of the obvious indications of spring. The stunning purple blossom that grows on these hardy bushes is widespread in this area. Each year, Mackinac Island even holds a lilac festival. When should I plant my lilacs? is a popular query as late April approaches.
Since this hardy, low-maintenance shrub flourishes in northern states due to the colder summers, lilacs are highly popular among local green thumbs. When put to your garden, the potently perfumed blossoms will bloom normally in late May and will draw pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. Although there are many other types of lilacs, the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) grows to a height of 12 to 15 feet and a width of 10 to 12 feet. The blossoms of lilac bushes make great cut flowers for interior arrangements and can linger for decades in your garden. The cut blooms will keep their perfume for three to five days in a vase filled with fresh water, allowing you to fill your house with the scent of spring.
What time should I plant them then? Well, that depends in part on the plant’s stage of dormancy when you buy it and how cold the winter was. You only need to be able to get into the ground without difficulty when buying a dormant plant (one with no leaves showing), whether it is potted or just bare roots. You might need to wait until the end of April to plant when we experience a particularly chilly winter. You may plant in early April if the winter was mild since the ground would warm out earlier.
In all scenarios, you should “test your soil first. Lilacs should not be planted, tilled, or otherwise manipulated in moist soil. This might be the result of recent precipitation, thawing snow, or even the melting of morning frost. Digging in moist soil destroys its physical composition, making it clumpy and unfriendly to roots. Make a fist out of a handful of dirt and roll it into a ball. If the dirt crumbles when you let go, it is sufficiently dry and suitable for labor; It is wise to plant the lilacs. If it continues to ball up, the soil is still too wet, and you should wait until it has further dried out before planting. Remember that a dormant plant won’t be harmed by freezing temperatures, so you can plant as soon as the soil is workable. You should wait until there is zero possibility of a hard freeze before buying an actively growing plant (one that has leaves growing) from your neighborhood nursery. For actively growing lilacs, it’s normally better to wait until mid-May to plant because a harsh winter will damage the foliage.
You should pick a location with well-drained soil that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. The development of a powdery mildew can also be avoided in an area with sufficient air circulation. It is recommended to avoid planting on grassy areas. Regular fertilizer and watering are typical for lawns. Since they dislike being overwatered, lilacs should not be fertilized with nitrogen. Once the root system has taken hold, water once a week in dry weather and more frequently in extremely hot weather.
What variety of lilacs can you find on Mackinac Island?
The fragrant, ambrosial scent that emanates from the colorful lilac trees that bloom on Mackinac Island in June is truly unique. Another pleasant, peaceful summer season officially begins with the clusters of blossoms that cover the island in its distinctive flowery scent (mixed, of course, with aromas of newly made fudge and the occasional road apple).
Learn more about Mackinac’s favorite shrub before you enjoy the flowers:
Henry David Thoreau’s notebook from his trip to Mackinac Island in 1861 contains the earliest account of lilacs on the island. The proof came to light in 2016 as Massachusetts resident Corinne Smith, a member of the Thoreau Society, went on the island to discuss her research. When asked if Thoreau had written about the lilacs on Mackinac Island, Corinne responded that he had, in fact, made one mention of them in his diary, just above a passage on apple trees.
Actually a native of the Balkan Peninsula, lilacs were brought to New England by European immigrants who planted the blooms close to their farms as a sign of good fortune. The hypothesis that the first lilacs were introduced to Mackinac by 19th-century immigrants, notably a man named Gurdon Hubbard from New Hampshire, was confirmed with the finding of Thoreau’s diary entry.
According to Jeff Young, a master gardener who oversees the horticulture for the island’s Lilac Festival, Hubbard and his family arrived to the island around 1870. (Hubbard had previously traveled there in 1818 when he was 16 and working for a fur trading enterprise.) The Hubbards started farming on the west side of the island and named their holiday home “The Lilacs” after the lilacs they had planted. Lilac stems that are about 100 years old can currently be found in this location known as Hubbard’s Annex. These stems are the progeny of previous stems, which were themselves about 100 years old. Since he is unaware of any older or larger stems in the United States or Canada, Jeff concludes that lilacs have been growing on Mackinac Island for around 200 years.
On the island, all 23 species of Syringa vulgaris (or over 400 variants) flourish due to ideal lilac-growing conditions, including shallow, well-drained soil with a high pH from underlying limestone. Horticulturists have verified that Mackinac’s specimens are the largest in the nation because of the abundance of rainfall and the good hardening each winter that have reinforced them over time. (Some stems have bases that are more than two feet wide!)
In the late 1800s, when more homes were constructed on Mackinac, more lilac trees were planted. Then, in an effort to increase visitor numbers after World War II, the annual Lilac Festival was established in 1949. Lilac trees were planted all around the island thanks in large part to the efforts of locals, local businesses, and the state park in Mackinac.
How big is Mackinac Island’s lilac grove?
Many tourists come to Mackinac Island to see the lilacs. The island’s first and biggest summer festival, the Lilac Festival lasts for ten days each year. All 23 lilac species, 400+ variations, and thousands of individual plants can be found on the island.
Every few years or so, we like to travel to Mackinac Island to explore the sites and take in the local culture, cuisine, and scenery.
We went to the island a couple of summers ago while I was pregnant. We had previously traversed the entire island several times, but this time I was eight months along and growing rapidly. I had had some of the finest poutine fries for lunch, so I was feeling a little bloated on this scorching sunny day. In order to understand more about the island’s history and geography, we took our first horse-drawn carriage journey around it. (Subsequently these excursions are kid- and family-friendly and a good, unhurried way to visit the tourist sights, I’ve since done them twice more.) As you ride along, they stop at attractions like Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac while taking you through the vast natural forest in a joyful, peaceful manner.
They highlighted the oldest lilac bushes on the island during this specific tour. Some of the Mackinac Island lilac trees are original Victorian plantings that date back to the colonial era and are approximately 200 years old. The ideal street for enjoying Lilac viewing (and floral sniffing) pleasures was mentioned by the tour guide, but I don’t recall the street’s official name; all I remember is that it is known as “Lovely Lilac Lane.” I instantly began to picture a nail polish shade with that name to honor the enormous and magnificent lilacs of Mackinac Island.
What is the reputation of Mackinac Island?
In the U.S. state of Michigan, an island and resort community known as Mackinac Island (/mkn/MAK-in-aw; French: le Mackinac; Ojibwe: Mishimikinaak; Ottawa: Michilimackinac) has a land area of 4.35 square miles (11.3 km2). Michilimackinac is the name of the island in Odawa, while “Mitchimakinak” in Ojibwemowin means “Big Turtle.” It is situated between the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac. [5] Prior to the start of European colonization on the island in the 17th century, the island was long home to an Odawa village and other indigenous cultures. It served as a strategic hub for the Great Lakes region’s fur trade. The British built Fort Mackinac on the island during the American Revolutionary War, emulating an old trading post. Before the northern border was fixed and the US secured control of this island, it was the scene of two battles during the War of 1812. [6]
Late in the 19th century, Mackinac Island developed into a well-liked summer resort. On the island, numerous buildings have received thorough historical preservation and restoration. The entire island is recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its historical importance. Numerous cultural events, a wide range of architectural styles, including the Victorian Grand Hotel, and the prohibition of practically all motor vehicles make it widely recognized. Mackinac Island State Park protects more than 80% of the island. [7]
In Michigan, what month are peony in bloom?
Growing Peonies in the Garden: Inspiring Peony Flowers. When the peonies blossom in Michigan, I consider it to be officially summer. This perennial’s stunning, enormous flowers bloom between late May and mid-June, just in time for the summer solstice.
Why is Michigan home to so many lilacs?
Those lilacs, oh my. They are so lovely and fragrant that Mackinac Island has a whole festival every year, usually in June, in their honor.
But have you ever wondered why people were so fascinated with lilacs? Why lilacs? Why not honeysuckle (my fave), orchids, daisies, irises, roses, gardenias, hyacinths, or any other kind of decent-smelling flower?
There is a purpose if, while exploring the countryside of northern Michigan, you come across a lilac grove in the midst of nowhere. Yes, many Michiganders today cultivate lilacs because they enjoy them, but older Michiganders from more than a century ago, back in the 1700s and 1800s, had a different motivation.
The fragrance was the key justification. People in the past had to rely on outhouses or simply a simple hole dug out in the back before there were flush toilets and running water. These man-made holes filled up since there were no septic tanks or sewer systems. When the landowners noticed that their outhouse holes were filling up, they excavated a brand-new hole and placed the outhouse on top of it. Voila! A fresh hole!
How should the old, overgrown hole be handled then? Put some earth over it and grow a lilac bush on top of it. The fragrant lilacs helped to cover up the foul, strong odor emanating from the just relocated outhouse and its fresh contents.
There are entire rows of lilac bushes located throughout northern Michigan and Mackinac Island, so this isn’t just some random shrub here and there. Why? Because the outhouse hole constantly getting moved over a few feet and a new bush was always planted over the previous hole whenever it filled up (typically every couple of years). So you’ll understand the significance of and what was formerly present when you see a hedge of lilac bushes in the north.
So, I suppose you wouldn’t be too far off target if you called the annual Lilac Festival a tribute to air fresheners. There are outhouse races in Mackinaw City during the winter; perhaps there is a way to mix the two?
Check out the photo collection down below now. I’ve included several vintage photographs and postcards of Michigan outhouses among the lovely lilac pictures!