The Lilac Lady...Hulda Klager...Woodland, WA

 

THE STORY OF THE LILAC LADY...HULDA KLAGER

Again this past weekend Shane, Sadie, Elijah and I did some more sight seeing around our area. This time we stayed on this side of the Glenn Jackson Bridge in our own home State of Washington. Usually when we go to Woodland, Washington we go to visit the Old Grist Mill, but I asked the kids if they had ever visited The Lilac Ladies House and neither one had...so, we decided to go check it out.

I had been there about 15 years ago and just fell in love with the old Victorian Farm House and the Story of Hulda and her love for Lilacs. Of coarse going to her farm in  July...there were no Lilacs in bloom as their season here in WA State is April - May...but still it is a pretty place to visit any time.

Hulda Klager was 2 yrs old when her parents brought her to America from Germany in 1865. They moved to Woodland and purchased a Farm in 1877 when she was thirteen  years old. In 1889 Hulda built a home of her own on four acres of the original farm.

Even though for years she remained busy with the demands of home, marriage and family she always seemed to have time for her love of flowers.  In 1903 while recovering  from an illness, someone gave her a book about Luther Burbank...a man known for his work in propagation of trees and plants. This caught Hulda's attention and soon afterwards she tried crossing a mild Wolf  River Apple with a sour but juicy Wild River Bismark Apple, where she was successful at producing a larger fruit that took less time to pare.

Hulda's work with Lilacs began in 1905. By 1910 she had fourteen new varieties to show for her efforts.  In just ten years time she had enough varieties planted & propagated on her farm to host her first Open House during the Spring Blooming Season.  She continued this annual event until her death in 1960.  As her reputation grew, Hulda became well known as the Lilac Lady.

The location of the Klager farm, with the Lewis River at it's door and the mighty Columbia just a mile to the West was always vulnerable to flooding.  In 1948 the entire area was damaged by a huge flood. The Klager Farm and nearly all of Woodland was underwater for some six weeks. Virtually all of Hulda's work was destroyed. But at age 83, she wasn't about to be defeated by a little water, and went to work restoring the  gardens.  Many of the people who had previously acquired lilacs from Hulda sent her starts from their own plants to replace those she had lost.  Working hard for the next two years, she was able to restore her gardens and resume her annual open house.

Today the Gardens and House are owned and operated by The Hulda Klager Lilac Society. The farmhouse has been restored to its Victorian origin. All the changes to the house and gardens are weighed carefully to ensure authenticity and preserve the Lilac Heritage.  During Lilac Days (mid April through Mother's Day) each year the House and Grounds are open for tours and lilac plants are sold by Society volunteers to continue to support the gardens and house.

{most of this story comes out of The Lilac Gardens Brochure}

Their website is www.lilacgardens.com

Shane, Sadie and I decided we will try to go back next Spring during Lilac Days even though it is extremely crowded that entire Month. But they will get an entirely different appreciation for the almost 100 different varieties of Lilacs on the property. However there was much to be said about having the entire Farm to ourselves Saturday...as we were the only people enjoying the peaceful tranquility, shade and beauty on a 90 degree day. .  We got lots of gorgeous pictures of everything but Lilacs.