The arrival of our most colorful, fragrant season is here! 

As I look back on growing up in a small town in Iowa, some of my fondest memories are associated with scents. Many lead back to my grandmother's house, where I would enjoy the wonderful aromas of her baking and her blooming lilac bush. Each Sunday after dinner, I would find myself in the backyard on her white, wooden swing gazing at the Weeping Willow and taking in the sweetness of these beautiful flowers. To this day, lilacs are a sentimental favorite of mine. And it’s quite fitting that they tend to bloom around Mother’s Day.

My other favorite flower is the hydrangea. I’ve made many flower arrangements using these beauties. With all the different varieties and the longevity of cut stems, hydrangeas are the perfect flower to create fresh and dried arrangements from spring up until late fall.

Inside this issue, professional horticulturist Ann Wickenhauser gives tips on selecting and growing hydrangeas in your own yard. We also spotlight carving artist Joe Krings, who creates one-of-a-kind wood sculptures, from eagles to totem poles to action figures. And, of course, we give you a peek into a few of Omaha’s most dazzling homes. 

For all you readers, like me, who can’t celebrate the holiday with your moms this year, start a new tradition to remember them by. My mother loved carnations, so I will buy a pretty vase of them and enjoy for the both of us.

Happy Mother’s Day! Happy spring!