This is Bob Myers from the Historical Society of Michigan with a Michigan History moment. Mackinac island has many wonders. Among them, it's lilacs. The island is famed for its lilacs that burst into fragrant bloom every June for a couple of glorious weeks. Mackinac island is alive with poofs of purple, pink, magenta, lilac blue and white and the blossom's wonderful aroma. The island offers ideal growing conditions for many species of lilacs, some of them that stand almost three stories tall. Lilacs, however, are not indigenous to Mackinac island or even North America. Tour guides like to tell visitors that Jesuit missionaries brought the lilacs to the island, but alas, that story is a myth. Lilacs, which are native to eastern Europe and Asia and came to America Sometime in the mid 18th century, 19th century settlers probably introduced them to Mackinac Island. They were certainly on the island by 1861 because when naturalist and author Henry David Thoreau visited that year, he noted in his journal that apple trees and lilacs were in bloom. Most of the lilacs, however, were planted by island business owners in the mid 19th century to help attract tourists. It worked. Today, the annual Lilac Lilac Festival draws thousands of visitors to Mackinac Island. Many of the island's lilacs are old, so attention in recent years has turned to pruning and removing old shrubs and planting new ones. Varieties called President Lincoln and President Greevy, the latter named for a 19th century president of France, now grow around the island marina and in Marquette Park. Other lilacs on the island were contributed by the International Lilac Society. Today, about 20% of the island's lilacs are either early or late bloomers. The latter varieties, such as the bright pink Miss Canada and the purplish Isabella Preston, extend Mackinac Island's lilac season later into the summer. Other popular varieties include the large and fragrant Pocahontas, the White Edge Sensation, the pure white Madame Lemon and the creamy white and pink Beauty of Moscow. Mackinac Island's lilacs have even made it into the silver screen. The 1947 motion picture this Time for Keeps starred Esther Williams and Jimmy Durante. It was partially filmed at the Grand Hotel and the soundtrack included a song by Leslie Kirk entitled When It's Lilac Time on Mackinac Island. This Michigan history moment was brought to you by michiganhistorymagazine.org.