Lovely lilac leaves taken early in the spring before it bloomed. This tree/schrub came to North America about 1750 from Europe and Asia.
Some famous lilac gardens are the Lemoine gardens at Nancy, France; the Arnold Arboretum at Jamaica Plains, Mass, the gardens in Highland Park, Rochester, N. Y.; and Lilacia Park in Lombard, Ill.
I found a great history story on Lemoine here:
Google and see what you come up with for interesting lilac reading!