A cool, gray afternoon (we've had a lot of those lately). I hadn't been to the Arboretum just lately, and when I entered, I was struck again with the tranquility of this place. I felt really lucky to live in the city and yet have the Arboretum about a twenty minute walk from home. Bird song filled the air, although there was the distant sound of traffic from the surrounding roads. There were few humans around on a weekday afternoon. One could walk two or three miles around the Arboretum, up and down little hills.
I had come to see the lilacs, most of which grow along one hillside. It's a paradise of scent and color. I was glad to see they have planted some new lilacs as many of the big lilac bushes are quite old.
Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the Arboretum since 1908. I've seen old photographs of people riding in carriages down the path beside the lilacs.
During most of my years in Jamaica Plain there would be several troupes of Morris dancers on Lilac Sunday dancing in the landscape. For a few years I also saw a local group of Isadora Duncan dancers dancing on the meadow near the entrance to the Arboretum, which was like an enchanted fairy vision.
Unfortunately the new director wanted to change things, and he did away with the dancers. They bring in food trucks instead, which I find inappropriate in the Arboretum landscape. As a result we don't go to Lilac Sunday anymore. Instead I go to the Arboretum on weekdays near that time. Much better for photos anyway when there aren't thousands of people around!
