Lydia Millen Garden: 'I've Been Foraging Lilac To Make Syrup

National Gardening Week (27 April — 3 May) is here, and with the seasons changing, it has been the perfect moment for me to step outside and spend more time in my garden.

I've been using it as an opportunity to build on what I've already been growing, but also try my hand at a few new things and learn new skills as I go.

There is a real stillness that settles in when I step into the garden. Whether I am tending to my seeds or moving between plants in the kitchen garden, I feel a sense of calm. There are true healing properties in the rhythm of nature, in the scent of earth, and in the simple act of being present.

Perhaps most special of all is witnessing seasonal changes unfold. The small, steady transformations, a bud forming, seeds taking root, something grown with care. Looking back on what once was and seeing what now is brings a sense of pride. It is a reminder that growth, in all its forms, is always worth the wait.

National Gardening Week is a celebration of the garden, in all its joy and levels – from the humble beginner to the best professionals. What bonds us all is the love for the natural world and the happiness it can bring.

"National Gardening Week is a celebration of the garden, in all its joy and levels"

Lydia Millen

Gardening is, and always will be, a lesson in progress rather than permanent perfection. And I always remind myself that gardening needn't be grand to be meaningful. Some of the most enchanting spaces are the smallest ones tucked into corners, perched upon windowsills, or held within a single pot. It is not space that defines a garden, but care and creativity.

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My own beginnings were humble, seeds lined along a windowsill, yet they sparked something that has never left me.

"My own beginnings were humble, seeds lined along a windowsill, yet they sparked something that has never left me"

Lydia Millen

We're now approaching the very end of April, and my greenhouse is filled with different plants and vegetables. I've been sowing French beans along with a repeat sowing of calendula. I also have a sow of sunflowers, and I'm looking forward to these blooming in a couple of weeks. My nasturtiums have been potted on, and I've been planting out fresh salads into the beds.

I'm a big advocate for foraged foliage and have been gathering wild garlic mustard from the woodland close to my home. This is one of the easiest and safest plants, as it's easily distinguishable and doesn't really tend to look like anything else. Although it's important to remember to forage with care (see the Woodland Trust for more guidance).

A new skill I've been exploring is working with lilac. Recently, my neighbour kindly invited me into her garden to forage for lilac from her lilac tree. I turned the blossom into my first batch of lilac sugar and I've been gently tending to this daily by giving the jar a soft shake to help the flavour infuse. It won't be long until this is ready and I can start baking with and testing to see if the floral note carries through.

Lydia Millen

I also experimented with making lilac syrup. My first attempt was slightly overdone on the heat, but it felt like it gave me a valuable lesson in patience! Next time, I plan to let the mixture steep more gently to preserve the flavour. It's been a process of learning, which I'm really enjoying.

Meanwhile, my garden is beginning to come alive with a variety of wildflowers. We currently have cow parsley, red campion and valerian beginning to appear and the wisteria is in full bloom. It really feels like those first moments of spring-summer abundance, which I love.

Happy National Gardening Week to all who celebrate!

Lydia Millen is the author of Evergreen and the Evergreen Journal (Orion Spring). To see more of her gardening journey, head to her Instagram (@lydia).