A local man had a hand in yesterday's century-old, sweet smelling Boston tradition - Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University.
Jonathon Nix, 58, is an artist resident of the Waltham Mills lofts and this year's winner of the Mother's Day T-shirt design contest.
Nix said he heard about the contest through his wife, Andrea, who is the director of administration and finance at the Arboretum.
Nix had a slight upper-hand in the competition as an artist and graphic designer currently working for MetLife Insurance.
"I've been to Lilac Sunday last year and thought it was a beautiful event," said Nix. "When I found out they were having a competition I was happy to give it my best."
Celebrating its 100th year, Lilac Sunday brought outdoor and garden enthusiasts from all over to enjoy the fresh blooming flowers with music, food and conversation.
"It's very, very popular," said Nix. "It's probably their most popular event of the year and a lot of people come out because its always on Mother's Day and the lilacs are in full bloom."
This year, as part of the 100th celebration, mothers and others had the chance to purchase a keepsake T-shirt, designed by Nix himself.
The image, said Nix, took only a few hours to create and simply encompasses the core aspects of the event.
"The important thing is this is the 100th anniversary of Lilac Sunday," said Nix. "The shield shape in the middle of it is the shape of the Harvard shield. It has that sort of reference to Harvard without actually mentioning it."
Nix attended yesterday's event alongside his wife.
Because his wife worked the event, Nix said his three children did not attend in celebration of Mother's Day. Instead, they got together last weekend to honor their mother.
Kerri Roche can be reached at kroche@cnc.com or 781-398-8009.
