Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The Magnolia Cone

Deep summer matures the magnolia cone. Soon, it will turn darker and more woody, then drop to the ground where its seed will be spread by birds, squirrels and chipmunks. I am told that the magnolia tree got its name from Dutch botanist Peter Magnol and that Southern magnolias rarely succumb to hurricanes, because of their deep root systems.
(The flower at the top of my sidebar is the magnolia in bloom.)

10 comments:

Steve Buser said...

Many years back we were trying to acquire a right of way and a dispute rose over some old trees in the way. I went out to investigate and found several Magnolia trees with trunks so big that two people couldn't wrap their arms around it. I had no idea they grew so big. Don't even want to guess how old they were.
--steve buser
New Orleans Daily Photo

Chris said...

Magnolias are one of the most beautiful trees - I have one in my backyard that is taking a long time to mature but the flowers in April are stunning.

Annie said...

Lovely colorful photo and it's southern to the core.

Z said...

They sure are beautiful trees. There's an old one in Brugg near Villigen, a spreading variety, that was actually dug up (HUGE root ball) and moved for an underground parking lot. It is back in its original location now, and seems to have survived the relocation just fine.

isa said...

Normally you associate Magnolias with the South...but I grew up in Northern Europe and there was a gorgeous Magnolia right outside my bedroom window!
They do get around, don't they ;-)

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

really nice shot! so clear.

Chris said...

I love magnolia trees. . . In our subdivision, a lot of people have the miniature magnolia trees. The leaves are smaller, as are the blooms, and they don't drop as many cones as the large ones do. Unfortunately, because of the heat and drought, we have not had many blooms this summer.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Great!!
We have them in pink, just in front of our house.... Yhe and after the magnolia ..."the cows" you got that right haha!
:)

JoAnn

Victoria said...

How beautiful. I love magnolia tress a lot. They aren't as common up here, but there are some on campus that I just adore.

Ming the Merciless said...

I have never seen a magnolia cone. It's gorgeous.