I planted a lilac bush a year and a half ago, and it bloomed this spring! Only two clusters of blossoms, but I was thrilled! My neighbor has rhododendrons, azaleas, and a snowball bush in bloom; I think I ought to invest in some of those early bloomers, too. I used to have many iris, but it got to be too much for me to keep weeded, so I gave most of them away and only kept a few. They are not blooming yet. The short ones should have bloomed by now, so perhaps they are taking the year off?