Rochester, N.Y. - After a mild winter and what feels like an early start to spring, you might be wondering what could happen to flowers, especially the lilacs at Highland Park.
"They can easily bloom and be all done and gone by the Lilac Festival," Scott Wilson said as he rode his bike on a warm March day.
The lilacs are responding to the warm weather.
Some of the buds are expanding, which means they could bloom early.
"It's a little early to tell when exactly they're going to bloom," said Superintendent of Horticulture Mark Quinn.
Quinn said people have wondered if the lilacs will bloom early.
"It's too early to actually tell...um right now my sense is things are a little on the early side," said Quinn. "If the warm weather continues things maybe early."
The Lilac Festival is timed for when the majority of lilacs peak, typically around May 15.
Even if it happens earlier, Highland Park's horticulturist said there still will be flowers to see.
Back in 1945 the lilacs bloomed in late April.
In 1956, the flowers didn't bloom until June.
The festival runs May 11-20.
