topic Re: The Magnolia Tree in Friends & Family

The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:47:18 GMT

Hi you can call me Hubert G.

I remember when I was in high school about 50 years ago. My horticulture teacher visited my house to help arrange my mother Violar plants and flowers in her yard. This was to help me with my grades in school. She agreed. Everything was going fine until the teacher wanted to move certain flowers. Mom said, "You'r not going to move this flower." When everything was over I got an excellent grade in his class. Mom said, "The yard do look better." She always try to be encouraging to her 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls. Dad did too in his on way. He was a hard worker. He showed us how to work. We were a Sharecropper family during the 1930's to 1960's. We moved off the farm into our own house, that we had built by picking cotton to pay for it. (The house is still there today in Lynchburg, SC with the magnolia tree in the front yard)

We move off the farm in our own house. What a happy day! Dad was able to rest from his hard work for 10 years then he died. Mom later came down with Alzheimer's disease. I wanted to write down some things mother told me about the pass but now it was to late. She could not carry on those clear conversations any more.

One day while it was my turn to set with her, I decided to write that book. What would be the title of it? I said a prayer, stood up from my chair, walked to my mother's front door and saw the magnolia tree in her yard. I knew I needed more to the title. So a few days late while driving to work I said in my mind, "Magnolia, Magnolia, Where Are You?" That provide to be my first book title.

So now there is a second book and 3 screenplay and more.

I send a challenge out to all. What is your magnolia story? If you live in the eastern part of the United States you will see these tree often. A fellow writer and friend of mine just returned from Switzerland. He saw the trees there too.

Try this, have the passager in your car spot a magnolia tree then have them count to 15, as you drive you should spot another magnolia tree. Let me know if it works and what state you are in. I am in South Carolina.

Love your magnolia (Mom)!

Thanks

Hubert G.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Soosie — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 14:14:26 GMT

What a sweet story. I have a big Magnolia Tree in my front yard and love it. Neighbors have taken blooms and greenery at different times to decorate.

I love to write also and have a book. I have not done anything with it yet, but it is my humorous view of a dsyfunctional family. It is a self help book written with humor.

Loved your story. Keep writing.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 18:52:17 GMT

Hi Ms. Soosie,

Thank you for the kind words. It means so much.

Hubert G.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 14:56:16 GMT

What a beautiful tree indeed! I have no magnolia tree story to tell. So I offer this photo and a famous and most fitting poem about and entitled simply "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer.

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 19:52:40 GMT

Hi Joyce,

What a beautiful tree! Keep writing poems. You bring more life to the magnolia tree.

Hubert G.

P.S. Let your friends know about this site.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 15:50:04 GMT

Hello Hubert,

My name is Lydia and I am the one who posted the picture of that beautiful magnolia tree back on the 13th of October. I also posted the classic poem entitled "Trees" written in 1913 by the poetess Joyce Kilmer. I just wanted to thank you for acknowledging my post. I am glad you enjoyed the photo and the poem. So here's another pic -- this time of the beautiful flower of our delightful tree. Enjoy!

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:28:49 GMT

Hi Lydia,

Wow!!!!!!! What a beautiful flower. I called you Joyce by mistake before, sorry. I see now Joyce Kilmer wrote the poem "Trees".

Mr. Kilmer was right in writing, "Only God can make a tree".

Hubert G.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:23:19 GMT

Thank you Hubert. Enjoy God's gift today!

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 11:19:09 GMT

Lydia, Just breath taking!!! (live)

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 23:01:08 GMT

Did you know?

There are around 210 species of magnolia that differ in size, shape, color of the flower and type of habitat. Magnolia trees originate from Southeast Asia and North America, but they have been naturalized to almost all continents in the world because of their beauty. Magnolia usually grows on acidic soils that are rich in nutrients, in areas that provide enough moisture and direct sunlight. It is often planted in parks and on the golf courses because of its ornamental morphology and ability to provide shade. Unfortunately, some species of magnolia are facing uncertain future due to habitat loss as a result of increased human activity.

And.......

Magnolia has dark green, oval shaped leaves that are covered with layer of wax. Leaves are evergreen.

Color of the flower depends on the species and it can be white, yellow, pinkish, purple and green.

Flower of magnolia has pleasant scent that resembles the smell of tropical fruit.

Magnolia blooms from April to June. First flowers develop seven years after planting.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:13:01 GMT

Hi Lydia,

Thank you for the great information on the magnolia tree.

I also found that - "Found in the rocks are fossil leaves of many trees and shrubs that show very little difference from the leaves of such plants today: oak, walnut, hickory, grape, magnolia, palm and many others."

You have shown great insight and knowledge. I hope others can see the beauty in them. Not to put one tree above another because they are all God's creation.

Keep up the find work. Thank you AARP for helping us to take it to the next level.

Thank you.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 10:54:08 GMT

Ms. Soosie,

Can you post a picture of your magnolia tree?

Thank you.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 10:58:16 GMT

Ok, I have a question. Why is southern women called "magnolias"? Where did this saying come from?

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 23:45:30 GMT

Okeedoke, Hubert! You set forth the challenge and ya made me hafta go look! But here's what I found out....

Some southern women are called, from time to time, "Steel Magnolias." A "steel magnolia" is a woman who posses the strength of steel, yet the gentleness of a magnolia. A southern woman who is strong and independant yet very feminine. It's origin is a combination of the contrasting images of "steel", a hard metal, and "magnolia", a flower.

Mary Kassian, a blogger wrote, “Steel Magnolia. I love the phrase because to me it speaks to the essence of womanhood. The image melds beauty with perseverance, softness with backbone, delicacy with durability, sweetness with stamina."

And I say, "What a beautiful description!"

Remember:

Steel Magnolias...The Movie

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 00:59:52 GMT

Lydia,

That's what I am talking about. Informed "Steel Magnolia"!

Thank you.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:21:37 GMT

P.S. I wonder if it's time for the movies that I wrote 3 scripts about to come to the screens?

I think it will take a Steel Magnolia to do this one.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

LydiaN586309 — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 03:39:57 GMT

Hubert,

Have you submited any of your writings to publishers or an agent? Time's a wastin' you know. In what you've written, you may have something as beautiful to share as our maggie here.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:24:24 GMT

Lydia,

You are so right. Time's a wastin'. I do have two books published. My first book title is "Magnolia, Magnolia, Where Are You?". My second book and the follow up to the first is "Magnolias That Cared About Me feathering THUNDER". Both books are on Amazon. I designed and painted the covers with a $2 paint set from Walmart.

Then I wrote the 100 page screenplay (movie) based on these two books. I sent it to a script consult with 20 years of experience in California. She read it and liked it, stating it would be a costly movie. That being said, I then broke the script down to 3 TV scripts.

On the cover of the first book you will see at the bottom of the book the two main charterers Anna and Ebony. (fiction) My Mom picture is on the top cover. Yes I called a number of agent with no good result. I sent two copy of my book to Oprah, Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg no good result.

Your flower above looks like it is just "reaching out". A photo like this one keeps me writing.

Thanks.

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 09:40:52 GMT

"Time's a wastin'"

Re: The Magnolia Tree

Magnolia2021 — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 02:43:54 GMT

Well, I need to get back to the point. I may have been a little selfish.

What is your magnolia story? (pictures of your tree, if you like)