Oh no, friends, that is no diaper. It is a big ass droopy white flower. And there are several of them in my mystery tree.
Can someone please quell my neuroses and tell me what kind of flipping tree this is?! I have been on all kinds of databases and have even taken "tree quizzes" (yes, the internet has those! and I can now tell you the different between pinnate and double pinnate!) to find out what it is. My best guess is that it's some kind of mutant magnolia???
Characteristics:
- Large, diaper-like flowers that appear with ninja-like surprise in mid-May
- waxy leaves that don't go away or fall off or lose their color in winter
- the leaves start shedding, instead, during the most asinine time - the Spring. See:
I think I will owe you my first born if you can enlighten me.
It is driving me up a wall....
You're right. It's a magnolia of some sort. I'm too lazy right now to go look up exactly which kind.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a magnolia. Just your basic, every day Southern Magnolia tree. I lived in an apartment complex called Magnolia Gardens in Memphis, and I freaking HATE those things. Also, if you want to get real nerdy about it, it's called a magnolia grandiflora (sp?)
ReplyDelete--Carly
Yep, a magnolia. We have a magnolia bush which is a little different, but I used to live in Louisiana and these were everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHee Hee Hee! Thank goodness it's a Magnolia tree and NOT a diaper tree! There arn't any magnolia trees where I live ~ the leaves are pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Memphis we thought the Magnolia trees were soooo gorg. I love them with their fake looking leaves and gorgeous smelly flowers!
ReplyDeleteAnd, now that we're back in Wisco, we don't see them that much!
I'd go with Mutant Magnolia - we have one too. Beautiful flowers but the leaves are indeed annoying.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't behave like my magnolia behaves. Ours bloomed in late March and has already lost its blossoms. And ours sheds its leaves during winter.
ReplyDeleteHey, psst...it's a MAGNOLIA!!!! AHAHAH
ReplyDeleteMy best friend in elementary school and I used to call them "Indian Feather-leaf Trees." For making headdresses when you ran out of birds, I guess. We were not exactly culturally sensitive.
ReplyDeleteI secretly wish that it was a diaper in your tree.
ReplyDeleteDiaper? Did you forget your coffee this morning? I agree with generic Magnolia. It may bloom at a little different time in different planting zones.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky duck! You have a magnolia! They smell AMAZING! My mom has several in her yard and the smell is just awesome. You can cut them and put the blooms in a bowl. I even carried one at my RD because her tree was in bloom. The leaves are kind of a pain, but I think worth it because the tree is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteLordy. Diaper! My great-grandmother is on spin cycle in her grave! BTW, you can permanently preserve these leaves for Christmas decor. Cut off some good-sized branches, bash the ends with a hammer a little bit, then put the branches in a bucket of glycerin-water solution for a couple of weeks (out of sunlight). This will preserve the branches yet leave the leaves supple. They're lovely to use in Christmas decorating! The blossoms smell beautiful. Enjoy them!
ReplyDelete