Here at the Boggy Thicket we have three Saucer Magnolias (magnolia soulangeana) of various sizes in the yard. I was really afraid we had lost them all to the drought this summer. When we returned from our trip, all of them looked terrible, but the smallest looked the worst; it had dropped all but four of its leaves, and one of them was turning brown. The other two magnolias looked bad, but not that bad – they were at least planted where they had the benefit of full shade most of the day.
Once home, we started watering them all daily, and hoping against hope that somehow they might survive.
Then the little one began to bloom!
That smallest Saucer Magnolia may be the most important plant in our yard. It was given to us as a remembrance when our daughter passed away, and Honey and I both refer to it as “Shanna’s Bush.”
I wasn’t sure at first whether the blooms were a good thing or not – were they a sign of renewal or the last gasp of a dying plant? I’m hopeful now - the blooms have fallen and there are a few new leaves opening on the stems.
The other two have now bloomed as well. All of the blooms had slender petals that made the flowers really sad and scraggly looking, but I’m not complaining If they all do survive – and it looks like they might - it will be a minor miracle.
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