Magnolia

When we lived on Moseley Road I bought two 'sticks' that would, someday, become beautiful magnolia trees.  Unfortunately we moved before they were more than taller sticks, but one of the things that sold me on the Middle Ridge house was the big beautiful magnolia tree in the front yard.  Each year it blooms huge pinkish blooms that lighten my heart.
One spring, probably 5 years ago now, the branches were full of huge buds just ready to spring open.  I awoke one morning to a foot of heavy wet snow and the branches of my magnolia tree cracked in half and laying on the ground buried in the snow.  I stood in my front yard ready to cry.  We hauled the broken limbs into the woods where I watched them bloom ~ dying in the weeds.  Mike did his best to trim the remaining pieces of tree ~ and because my husband is wonderful and God is good ~ the tree is as beautiful today as it was then.  The blooms are so short lived, but for the week or two that they bloom, it is quite glorious.
I am not alone in my magnolia love.  One day last summer the old owners of our house stopped by.  The mother asked me is her ashes could be spread under that magnolia tree when she dies.  And why not?  It would be such a peaceful final resting place.