Lombard Lilac Time 12/15/2016 - by Lombard Historical Society (Paperback)

Dimensions (Overall): 9.2 Inches (H) x 6.4 Inch (W) x .4 Inch (D)
Weight: .65 Pounds
Number of Pages: 127
Genre: History
Sub-Genre: United States
Format: Paperback
Publisher: ARCADIA PUB (SC)
Author: Lombard Historical Society
Age Range: Adult
Language: English

About the Book

Lombard has been called the "Lilac Village" since the late 1920s when William R. Plum, affectionately known as the "Colonel," bestowed his world-renowned lilac collection to the village for use as its first public park. Colonel Plum's 2.5-acre estate was known as Lilacia and began in 1911 after a trip to the Lemoine Lilac Gardens in France. By the time Plum passed away in 1927, he had amassed over 200 varieties of lilacs and had the largest collection of French hybrids in the world. Jens Jensen, the famous landscape architect, designed a public space out of Plum's lilac collection with winding paths of native limestone, tulips by the thousands, and a lily pond in the park. The first community-wide Lilac Festival was held in May of 1930, unveiling Jensen's Lilacia and including a Lilac Queen and Court, a pageant, parade, and wide variety of events and festivities celebrating the village's new park.

Book Synopsis

Lombard has been called the Lilac Village since the late 1920s when William R. Plum, affectionately known as the Colonel, bestowed his world-renowned lilac collection to the village for use as its first public park. Colonel Plum s 2.5-acre estate was known as Lilacia and began in 1911 after a trip to the Lemoine Lilac Gardens in France. By the time Plum passed away in 1927, he had amassed over 200 varieties of lilacs and had the largest collection of French hybrids in the world. Jens Jensen, the famous landscape architect, designed a public space out of Plum s lilac collection with winding paths of native limestone, tulips by the thousands, and a lily pond in the park. The first community-wide Lilac Festival was held in May of 1930, unveiling Jensen s Lilacia and including a Lilac Queen and Court, a pageant, parade, and wide variety of events and festivities celebrating the village s new park."

Review Quotes

Title: Lilac Time opens this weekend in Lombard
Author: Anna Madrzyk
Publisher: Daily Heralrd
Date: 4/30/2010

Come for the flowers. Stay for the fun.

Run a 5K with your mutt. Sip Shiraz under the stars. Or rekindle your childhood love of croquet (remember mallets and wickets?).

Lilac Time is Lombard's annual two-week festival in Lilacia Park, a celebration of spring set against a backdrop of 1,200 lilacs and 25,000 tulips. Events include concerts, plant sales, a sculpture show, historic tours, beer and wine tastings and the popular Mutt Strut 5K.

Lilac Time kicks off today with the Little Lady Lilac Ball dad-and-daughter dance and ends Sunday, May 16, with the Lilac Parade. "Honor Your Heritage" is this year's theme.

The Lilac Queen will be crowned in a ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1. The 2010 Lilac Princesses are Corinne Horner, Kelly Lahr, Julie Sipek and Rachel Stelter.

Every year there's something new added to the festival lineup, and this year it's croquet.

A traditional six-wicket tournament, organized with help from the International Croquet Society's Chicago chapter, runs 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13. Sign up in advance at (630) 629-1885.

"Croquet is kind of coming back in style and we're trying to ride that wave a little bit and hearken back to the days of old," said Jeanne Schultz Angel of the Lombard Historical Society.

Traditionally, players of the generally genteel Victorian-era lawn game wear white. Lilacia Park players may wear any color they want.

History of the event

The first Lilac Queen wore a crown fashioned from silver spoons donated by the ladies of Lombard.

Adeline Fleege, the daughter of the town's grocer, was carried through Lilacia Park on throne by four caped footmen.

Instead of a parade, spectators sat through a lengthy pageant - 200 costumed players, three full acts, a maypole and medieval dancing.

It's all part of the story of "Lombard's Lilac Time" (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99), by members of the Lombard Historical Society. The 128-page volume is part of Arcadia's Images of America series.

Tom Fetters, past president of the historical society, edited the book. He also worked on chapters on Col. William R. Plum, who brought the lilacs to Lombard from Europe, and Jens Jensen, the famed landscape architect who designed the public space.

Most of the photos are from the Lombard Historical Society's collection.

Photos are reprinted with permission from "Lombard's Lilac Time" by the Lombard Historical Society. The book is available from the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling (888) 313-2665. The books can also be found at local bookstores and online booksellers.

Title: Lilac Time opens this weekend in Lombard
Author: Anna Madrzyk
Publisher: Daily Heralrd
Date: 4/30/2010

Come for the flowers. Stay for the fun.

Run a 5K with your mutt. Sip Shiraz under the stars. Or rekindle your childhood love of croquet (remember mallets and wickets?).

Lilac Time is Lombard's annual two-week festival in Lilacia Park, a celebration of spring set against a backdrop of 1,200 lilacs and 25,000 tulips. Events include concerts, plant sales, a sculpture show, historic tours, beer and wine tastings and the popular Mutt Strut 5K.

Lilac Time kicks off today with the Little Lady Lilac Ball dad-and-daughter dance and ends Sunday, May 16, with the Lilac Parade. "Honor Your Heritage" is this year's theme.

The Lilac Queen will be crowned in a ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1. The 2010 Lilac Princesses are Corinne Horner, Kelly Lahr, Julie Sipek and Rachel Stelter.

Every year there's something new added to the festival lineup, and this year it's croquet.

A traditional six-wicket tournament, organized with help from the International Croquet Society's Chicago chapter, runs 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13. Sign up in advance at (630) 629-1885.

"Croquet is kind of coming back in style and we're trying to ride that wave a little bit and hearken back to the days of old," said Jeanne Schultz Angel of the Lombard Historical Society.

Traditionally, players of the generally genteel Victorian-era lawn game wear white. Lilacia Park players may wear any color they want.

History of the event

The first Lilac Queen wore a crown fashioned from silver spoons donated by the ladies of Lombard.

Adeline Fleege, the daughter of the town's grocer, was carried through Lilacia Park on throne by four caped footmen.

Instead of a parade, spectators sat through a lengthy pageant - 200 costumed players, three full acts, a maypole and medieval dancing.

It's all part of the story of "Lombard's Lilac Time" (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99), by members of the Lombard Historical Society. The 128-page volume is part of Arcadia's Images of America series.

Tom Fetters, past president of the historical society, edited the book. He also worked on chapters on Col. William R. Plum, who brought the lilacs to Lombard from Europe, and Jens Jensen, the famed landscape architect who designed the public space.

Most of the photos are from the Lombard Historical Society's collection.

Photos are reprinted with permission from "Lombard's Lilac Time" by the Lombard Historical Society. The book is available from the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling (888) 313-2665. The books can also be found at local bookstores and online booksellers.