A Grand Flower It Is

.

.
The Southern Magnolia's technical name is magnolia grandiflora. They grow from Virginia to Florida, as far as Texas, and hardier plants as far north as Ohio. In Treutlen County they started blooming the first week of May, have already reached their peak, but they will be blooming for a few more days. Above is a Magnolia with blooms at various stages.
.

.
Two or three of the largest Magnolias you are likely to find here are those on the west lawn of the courthouse. Mrs. George (Lavada) Barwick, a charter member of the Soperton Garden Club, said that the club planted the trees, which were brought from the river swamp. Mrs. Barwick's husband was longtime Sheriff, and she sat on their porch (Georgia Avenue & MLK Drive) watching as the courthouse was being constructed. She later became Clerk of Court.
.

.
A gray squirrel contentedly rests on a large Magnolia limb at the courthouse. The trees have grown so large that even high jumpers would have trouble reaching a lower limb, but about 50 years ago, according to one of our lovely young ladies, she and her older brother could hide in the lower branches that nearly touched the ground, waiting for their mother to get off from work. They climbed, sat, and yelled when people came by. Luckily nobody ever saw them.
.

.
One of the problems presented by the Magnolia is that it drops leaves all year, but especially in the blooming season. It's best to wait till the falling subsides. Some people dispose of the leaves while others just rake them around the trunk, to hold moisture. It takes a while but they will eventually turn to mulch. Although Mrs. Barwick went along with the other Garden Club members on the courthouse Magnolias, but she once pointed to one of the leaves and said, "I'd as soon have a piece of paper on my lawn than one those."
.

.
Mrs. Laura Peterson, also a charter member of the Soperton Garden Club, was memorialized by the club's planting a Magnolia at the County Commissioners office (the Cullens house).
.

.
When club member, Mrs. Dicy Kate Gillis died, the club presented the bench in her memory.
.
If you like this post, forward it to your e-mail friends.
This post approved by Marlee.
http://treutlenenews.blogspot.com
.