Where Lilacs Still Bloom – Review

As part of Blogging for Books, I received a copy of Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick for review.

From the back cover:

One woman, an impossible dream, and the faith it took to see it through.

German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eighth-grade education—and a burning desire to create something beautiful. What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time-consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth-century expectations for a simple housewife.

Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus. In a time of practicality, can one person’s simple gifts of beauty make a difference?

Based on the life of Hulda Klager, Where Lilacs Still Bloom is a story of triumph over an impossible dream and the power of a generous heart.

“Beauty matters… it does. God gave us flowers for a reason. Flowers remind us to put away fear, to stop our rushing and running and worrying about this and that, and for a moment, have a piece of paradise right here on earth.”

 

While Where Lilacs Still Bloom is a historical fiction book, it also has a biography feel to it. Hulda Klager was a real person who did indeed grow lilacs. Not only grow them, but develop over 250 new varieties. That’s quite an accomplishment for a wife and mother with no formal training. And she did it all in her own yard.

In Where Lilacs Still Bloom, you’ll get to know Hulda and her family and follow them through hard times and sad times. You’ll also get to rejoice with them in happy times. There is also a picture of Hulda in her garden.

You can even visit the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens located on the property owned and gardened in Washington. How these gardens came about is discussed in the Author’s Note in the back of the book. Where Lilacs Still Bloom also has a Readers Guide with discussion questions.

Where Lilacs Still Bloom is not just a gardening book about lilacs, but a story of love and faith. Of one women’s desire to use the gifts that God gave her.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Where Lilacs Still Bloom.

 

Read an excerpt of Where Lilacs Still Bloom. You can also download Chapter One to read.

For more information, visit Jane Kirkpatrick’s website. Or Waterbrook Multnomah.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”