Much Ado About Magnolias

During my first visit to Korea during spring ( my very first  and only experience of spring in 2007), my mind was on cherry blossoms. But the first thing that caught my eye on the first day of that visit was a leafless tree just outside the main temple of Donghak-sa with elegant white blooms. Didn't know it at that time but I soon learnt I had just seen my first magnolias.

 목련꽃 "Mongnan - kkot" a.k.a. magnolias have started appearing in places like Jeju

- a sign that spring's just around the corner.

Here are some interesting things which I've just learnt about these "aristocrats of ancient lineage" as described by E.H. 'Chinese' Wilson. It's hard to believe but these trees existed even before the bees ( 20 -95 million years ago) so the flowers developed pretty hardy petals so that beetles could crawl into them to aid in pollination. The ancestors of these trees have survived ice ages  and continental drifts and now their progeny are scattered all over parts of Asia as far south as Sulawesi and as far west as Cuba.

 Who's lucky enough to live in an apartment next to a magnolia tree?

Magnolias also have a great track record as hardy trees which can deal effectively with air pollution so it’s not surprising to see them in town gardens. They have the enviable distinction of looking even more resplendent as they get older. Hmmm, maybe I should be reincarnated as a magnolia tree with creamy white or yellow or magenta blooms in my next life. ( just kidding).

Found this other comment by Orson S. Card which gave me pause for thought: .".. magnolias shed worse than cats. And not delicate little brown pine needles. These are big sloppy brown leaves, thick as cardboard and about the size of a brochure. On top of that, they drop ugly cones that are big enough you can sprain your ankle if you step on one in the dark." The Japs wouldn't agree with Mr. Card as they use the leaves of the magnolia obovata to wrap food and as cooking dishes in certain parts of the country.

Aside from looking extremely decorative, magnolia trees have proven rather useful. The Chinese have used the fragrant bark of M.officinalis ( hou po  OR 厚朴) as part of their traditional medicine as it's believed to have anti-anxiety properties and may help to  reduce allergic and asthmatic reactions. Buddhist monks in Haeinsa have turned the wood of silver magnolias into printing blocks for their sutras.

They've also been adopted as symbols - the white magnolia of Daejeon represents friendship while Siebold's Magnolia is the national flower of North Korea. The flowers stand for grace and elegance in the hearts and minds of most Koreans but for many Budhhists, the magnolias symbolize the attainment of nirvana after long and painful suffering.

  

Unfortunately my few pics of the magnolias didn't turn out so great with the overcast sky and the poor timing in the evening. So I'm grateful to those who've posted these lovely pics on the Net - thanks for sharing these magnolias with the rest of us!

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5wCejDrPU
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/gardening/full-of-eastern-promise-magnolias-are-a-magnificent-harbinger-of-summer-anna-pavord-takes-great-pleasure-in-finding-the-right-plant-to-suit-her-dorset-garden-744573.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/12/162_41949.html
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/travel/skyongsang/tripitaka.htm
http://www.mortonarb.org/tree-collections/taxonomic-groups/flowering-trees/magnolia.html
http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2009-06-14.shtml
http://www.gaok.or.kr/eng/e03_infor/infor060.jsp