New
Hampshire Gardens - An Historical Vignette
The purple lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is aptly chosen as
New Hampshire's state flower. The first settlers to come
from England landed at Little Harbor Point in the spring
of 1623. The first planting of lilacs into New Hampshire,
and what is generally accepted to be the first introduction
in America, is found on the old Governor Benning Wentworth
estate in Portsmouth on Little Harbor Road. The house
itself was built by Governor Benning Wentworth's grandfather
in 1690.
Tradition holds that upon taking office as Governor in
1750 Benning Wentworth built a new council chamber. Having
brought some lilacs from England on one of his own merchant
ships he decided to plant these first lilacs on the vacant
terrace adjacent to this council chamber to please his
wife.
Today, two hundred and fifty years later, stunning lilacs
from the same plant stock still bloom.
Bibliography
and Acknowledgments
Shown: Purple Lilac ( Syringa
vulgaris )
