It is a Saucer Magnolia, also known as the Tulip Tree. It's a very popular tree here in Houston and, I suppose just like the entire Magnolia genus, all over in the Southern growing region. It is a lovely tree, a tree with flowers of large lavender and pink and white petals. Like the Redbud tree, the Saucer Magnolia is one of the first signs that Spring is on its way, if not already here. These two flowering trees seemingly pop up over night all over Houston, and suddenly we have color again.
The problem is that I am not a fan of this tree and yet I have a sizeable one in the front yard of my new house. It is in full bloom right now and, I admit, looks lovely. And yet I remain indifferent. I want to be head over heels with the tree, I really do. I spend time with it each morning and am starting to be taken by its bright green leaves and sweet scented flowers. Yet I can't yet say that I'm thrilled that the tree is in my yard. It's in a prime location for a Dogwood or Bradford Pear (two of my personal favorites), but I will not remove it because it's not the tree's fault that the previous owners planted it there. Nope, instead I'm challenging myself to learn to appreciate and embrace this tree. We do, afterall, live together.
3 comments:
That's a beautiful tree. I may be biased- tulips are my favorite flower. Can't wait to start seeing them everywhere up here!
-sdhb
if mankind could take that approach to those not like them....
I have a love/hate relationship with this tree as I do with the flower. Very stunning in bloom, but the wilting and relatively quick demise of the bloom is so dis-heartening.
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