lilac time!

Rowan trees keep the witches away we were told as children. It's true too. I have a rowan in my garden and never had a single witch.

AKA, me neither, just goes to show eh !
Would not really want any witches round the old homestead !

Laurel leaves in a jug/vase are supposed to be lucky !

The older lady who helped me with cleaning when I worked full-time was a lovely Geordie- one day when she came in, she went white and almost strarted to shake, as I had a big vase full of 3 different colour lilac on the dining-room table. She told me it was really unlucky- which I'd never heard before. I took them out as it was clearly upsetting her. It is funny how superstitions change from one country to the next. Black cats can be a lucky or unlucky sign, depending on where.

We have a lilac tree in bloom and the scent wafts around as I walk past it. Its gorgeous.

My rowan trees are very lucky. One day when I was coming back from a countryside walk, I noticed something in the gutter near our Natural Burial ground- I went to investigate, and there were several trees, in pots, lying down in gutter. I went back some weeks later and they were still there- fortunately not dead as it had rained heavily. When I went there again in the autumn, they were still there- so I went to get car and trailor and 'adopted/saved' them. Two rowans, 1 oak and 3 silver birch. Two years later, they made the long journey to the Swiss mountains- 1 silver birch has died- but all others are doing really well. No oaks at this altitude- so I protected oak tree during first two winters, both trunk and head- but no protection for past two years- just coming into leaf now, good lad. Those trees are very special to me.

granjura what a very strange find. Makes you wonder why that happened, who would throw them there?I like rowans, don't have any now but we used to have several at our last address.
I wonder who decided that lilacs indoors were unlucky? or umbrellas indoors come to that?Why are some people superstitious and others not?
Nurses in hospitals used to never mix white and red flowers together , in the days when the nurses took the flowers from visitors and arranged them in a vase of water for patients [ great days eh?] Now you can't even give a patient some flowers at all in the UK.

When I was nursing, a mix of red and white flowers on the ward was a huge no no. The superstition was it meant a death on the ward.

We still have flowers on the ward in this part of Scotland but they are no longer taken out of the ward overnight as we did.

Sending or taking flowers to a hospital is an absolute no-no now. I have always thought it is such a shame.

My daughter spent her birthday in hospital last year and when I arrived with DGCs bearing bunches of flowers, I fully expected to have to take them home after handing them over.Was pleasantly surprised when nurse said they could stay and she'd bring a vase ( for the flowers, not the children) She told us it depends on the ward - definite no in respiratory and surgical. Agus that was Ninewells in Dundee.

Flowers are still permitted in various hospitals in the UK, depending on staff decisions. I was referring to West of Scotland mcem

I had lilac in my bouquet when I got married, My mum was convinced I would not be allowed in the church! Never had a lilac bush, but feel I should make the effort to buy one now, although a little late in life!

our Geordie cleaning lady said it was because a mother was putting lilac in a vase indoors when she got the letter announcing her son had been killed in the war... whether that is the reason, I do not know.

Went to French garden centre to buy a double white lilac on Saturday and they had run out- will look around.