'Mr. Lilac' to speak at Opechee Garden Club meeting

GILFORD — The Opechee Garden Club will host a program about lilacs at its meeting on Monday, May 2.

Did you know that New Hampshire's oldest purple lilacs were located circa 1750, in Portsmouth? It was eventually determined that these lilacs had been imported from England, and planted on the property of the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion by earlier settlers.

Other fascinating facts, including lilac history, the care of lilacs, and the Lilac Commission will be presented by guest speaker Guy Giunta Jr., the chairman of the New Hampshire Governor's Lilac and Wild Flower Commission. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Gilford Community Church.

After moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire in 1988, Giunta began his career with the State of New Hampshire as the first and only employee of the Governor's Lilac Commission. Six months later, he was moved to roadside development for New Hampshire. In 1990 he became a member of the Lilac Commission, and in 1995 was elected its chairman. Giunta became landscape specialist supervisor for New Hampshire DOT in 2001, a position he held until January of 2014 when he retired.

During his 25 years of working on roadside development, and as a landscape specialist, Giunta planted and supervised the planting of an estimated 70,00 to 80,000 lilac plants along Routes 93 and 89, on highway medians, in rest areas and along off-ramps, and helped towns and organizations who requested lilacs or wildflowers for their gardens or landscape designs. His nickname, "Mr. Lilac" evolved naturally.

Giunta continues his mission to promote the nurturing of lilacs, and to educate New Hampshire citizens on the significance of lilacs to the state of New Hampshire. Most people know that the purple lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire, but most do not know that there was quite a contest as to which of many suggested flowers would become the official flower. The lilac eventually won, as the flower was seen not only to be beautiful and fragrant, but also to represent the strong character of the men and women of the Granite State. Governor John Bartlett signed the lilac into law on March 28, 1919.

Members and their guests are encouraged to arrive early, 12:30 - 1 p.m., to visit with friends before the business meeting begins.

Opechee Garden Club meets at 1 p.m. on the first Monday of most months, at the Gilford Community Church, 19, Potter Hill Road, in Gilford. New members are always welcome. Opechee Garden Club is a member of the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., the New England Region, and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.