LOL.

Do you think professional propagators of lilacs direct their work to the phase of the moon?

I wouldn't know if Professional propagators of lilacs direct their work to the phases of the moon, but I sure can ask some and get back with you on that. If you check out the book "The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation from seed to Tissue Culture" By Michael A. Dirr and Charles W. Heuser Jr. On page 22 first paragraph.

Page 23 on my Dirr. But on lilacs I have been able to dig around the edge and separate rooted suckers from the plant and grow them on in a pot. Have not had any luck rooting cuttings. Al

Okay here is my finding from my own cuttings taken and dates along with that moon phase during that period and the results of each.
I took 40 Cuttings on May 12, next 40 cuttings taken on May 13, another 40 taken on May 14 . Now if you check these dates at the web site mentioned in previous post and put in Des Moines, Iowa for the City and State and check out the data you will see all the the dates mentioned so far is in the moon waxing phase. Remember this is for top growth. and the picture shows what I got from these

Then later 25 taken on May 20 , and 15 more cutting taken on June 17 which this time the moon was waning. They did not grow any new buds or leaves but they did grow roots and a lot of them. I now have 35 out of 40 total cutting that was taken during the waning moon. Now these are planted outside in a protective place till 2016. Well this is proof enough for me that the moon phase does make a difference.

How interesting. Do you have records from any other years to compare?

No, 2014 was the first year I kept records and later the first I heard of moon phases making the difference. In 2015 there will be a lot of record keeping for me.

I was attracted to your post as you mentioned wanting to grow lilac cuttings.

An old boss of mine, who was younger than me, once told me that the best time to select cutting material from lilac is when it was still very soft. I tried this and was successful but I had access to a propagation glasshouse.

Re the moon, a colleague of mine years ago who was (and still is) Italian, always planted her veggie seed by the moon. It was important to sow them either when it was waxing or waning - I can't remember. I did try it too at the time but it was long ago and can't remember the results.

I discount nothing when it comes to what might seem weird to some. We don't know the half of what goes on. Or at least I don't.