Expert presents 'Lilac Basics' in Lombard

In the spirit of Lilac Time, the village of Lombard held an informational "Lilacs 101" class Friday at village hall.

Lombard resident and lilac expert Marymae Meyer led the one-hour class. She gave a presentation, titled "Lilac Basics," that featured lilac names and photos and answered common questions about the plants, such as bloom time and the size and shape of different varieties.

In 2007, Meyer began helping the Lombard Park District create a digital inventory of Lilacia Park, which contains nearly 800 lilacs. The experience fueled her passion for lilacs.

"I became so deeply fascinated by the history, science, origins and originators of lilacs while mapping and cataloging the records, that I joined the International Lilac Society in 2008," Meyer said in a statement.

A year later, Meyer was elected to serve as the director of the International Lilac Society. She has traveled to lilac events throughout the country and in Canada and is currently serving her second term on the society's board.

The village's annual Lilac Time ends Sunday with the Lilac Parade, which steps off at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Wilson Avenue.