It is somewhat universally known, among readers and admirers of Jane Austen, at least, that she loved to walk, especially in gardens. Most often at the estate(s) of her wealthy brother and on visits to other friends and family.
Recently read an article about Austen’s relationship to gardens was discussed in an interesting article published in Persuasions The Journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America, or JASNA. Afterwards I noted two (2) of Austen’s favorite trees: Laburnum or golden chain and Syringa. To note, I failed to pull the title and author, and I’m hoping to correct this when JASNA posts the digital issues online, they have some posted from the archives, but this was a more recent article in late 2023 or early 2024, and so I will keep checking.
Per searching online the Laburnum or golden chain, looks sort of like a weeping willow, only the flowers are a pretty yellow-golden color. Syringa — Latin name for lilac, or a smallish type of common lilac syringa vulgaris, again per searching online, I learned is found in the United States mostly in the Pacific Northwest. If this is exact type of lilac that Austin loved, I am still unsure.
To note, when I started this blog, I had some photos of lilacs I took as the original cover photos but I was unaware of Austen’s love for them. My mum always loved lilacs, and had hoped to carry them when she married my dad, but it was too late in the season for them in 1964 and most florists did not have the capacity to import them. My mum did have one florist friend who probably could have special ordered/imported them, but she always said she did not want to bother him — I think though to clarify she probably did not want to do anything too expensive. My folks had a small wedding and it was not easy for them, they saved for four years to buy a house before they married.
The photo I have photos posted of the lilacs over the years are from the original bush on the side of our house by our front door. Years later my dad added a small white lilac that does bloom for a short time and another purple lilac on the other side of our front walk, which has another short bloom cycle — I don’t think it likes the wind off the beach. My friend Kay helped me trim all this past fall and she said the original lilac will need more pruning in the spring after it flowers — it was quite overgrown.
The idea that Austen loved lilacs is just somewhat comforting to me along with the connection to my mum.
In a related note, in the book, Jane Austen at Home, by Lucy Worsley, there were mixed feelings about moving to Castle Square in Southampton, including the crowded quarters and the wind and the weather, however, “The compensatory garden — a gardener was engaged to improve it — was to contain sweetbriar, roses, syringa, currants, gooseberries and raspberries…Jane requested Cassandra bring back ‘some flower-seeds from Godmersham particularly Mignonette.'”
To note, along with salt tolerant sunflower seeds and sea lavender I’ve order Mignonette seeds as well. The nursery’s online catalog said they do well in pots at least 6 inches in diameter. The seed packet is large so I may give some to friends and family too but along with the lilacs, for now, trying to bring a little Austen into both the back and front gardens.
Cite to: Jane Austen at Home. A Biography, Lucy Worsley, St. Martin’s Griffith, NY, 2017.
Shalden & Neatham sister site to the Reluctant Janeite 
As a lover of flowers and gardens, I am charmed by this post. In fact I have just returned from a walk in a garden close to home a few moments ago.
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