Seattle Times: Valerie Hilt’s yard brims with hollyhocks, hellebores and hyacinths. But it’s her lilac bush that landed the Port Angeles great-grandmother in the annals of science. For 35 springs, Hilt has logged the date when the first leaf unfurls on the 20-foot-tall shrub. She also takes note of the first fragrant blossom and other milestones, like peak bloom. “It doesn’t take any great amount of time,” she said. “I’m always outside looking around anyway.” Hilt, 70, is one of the …