Magnolia Really Cooking Now!

Another bonus update of sorts, triggered by noticing that the local and much photographed magnolia is now flowering full blast, it's magnificent blooms drooping mightily above the pavement, their furry cases now a memory. Most of the magnolias I see around own are white, so this violet-pinkish specimen really stands out.

Noted scientists (Professor W. Iki) say that these flowers evolved to be pollinated by beetles at a time before the existence of bees, and indeed there is a slightly prehistoric feel about the magnolia.

You could easily imagine it lurking and mutated in the tropical gymnosperm swamps that covered Britain in JG Ballard's wonderful novel "The Drowned World", a science fiction work all nature lovers should read.

There is talk that magnolia has medicinal properties, that it's bark might help fight bad breath and tooth decay. But I think I'll pass on giving it a quick chew as I go by later, and stick to my boring old toothbrush.

Which let's face it, almost certainly hasn't been widdled on by a dog.

Si

The whole tree

Flowers have really loose structure

Reward would have awaited persistent beetle

The structure from behind