In high school, when my friend Jane and I passed notes back and forth, we used code names in case our information fell into enemy hands. I went by “Magnolia.” It came from that Grateful Dead song, which I loved, but I don’t think I really thought about magnolias much until we moved to Arlington, Va., into a house that had this magnolia tree growing in the front yard. I’m posting a picture of it in honor of National Poetry Month.
That Joyce Kilmer “I think that I shall never see” poem? I’m pretty sure he was talking about my tree. (Just in case he wasn’t, I try to sneak magnolia references into my own writing when I can.)
You can also follow this link to see my Magnolia in Winter.
As much as I love living in Minnesota, I am deeply covetous of folks living in Magnolia country. If I was ever transformed into a tree, I would sincerely hope it would be a tulip magnolia. In April.
Beautiful photo!