patience brings flowers

Three springs ago, I planted a lilac bush next to the house. I wanted to be able to sit on my porch and smell the flowers while reading or listening to a baseball game. So I fertilized and patiently waited spring after spring - with no flowers. I got lots of leaves and growth, but no flowers. Not one. I finally decided around Christmas that if it didn't flower this year, I was going to rip it out. I know, I know, a little on the dramatic side. But my threats must have worked, because I got lots of gorgeous flowers this year that started blooming just yesterday.