[LMB] Magnolias

[Dawn Benton]

We have those here in Atlanta as well.  I didn't realize that "Tulip trees" 
were the same thing as this deciduous magnolia everyone was talking about. 
You are right.  They are just about the first thing in bloom every spring, 
and many years a surprise frost kills all the blossoms right away.

Dawn
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Allums" <mark at allums.com>
To: "Discussion of the works of Lois McMaster Bujold." 
<lois-bujold at lists.herald.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 5:32 PM
Subject: [LMB] Magnolias


> Apropos of Magnolias...
>
> ...It occurred to me today that I lived in locations that had both
> Southern magnolias, and a deciduous magnolia.  The deciduous tree
> escaped my memory at first, because I was thinking of the great, green
> trees.  However, we also had at one time an interesting tree, which we
> called a "tulip tree".  It lost its leaves in the fall, and was rather
> pitiful-looking.  However, it was the very first thing to bloom in the
> spring, even before the daffodils and jonquils.  It would bloom like a
> fruit tree, with great, big pink blossoms shaped like any magnolia
> blossom, sort of reminiscent of a tulip, but the tree had no leaves at
> all.  It was a bit cheering, and my Dad would note the appearance of the
> blooms in February, with the statement that "Spring is virtually here!"
>  (That is a catchphrase of his, which he starts saying in December.)
>
> --Mark Allums