Frost-Bitten

   The picture above is of the two Saucer Magnolias that you otherwise may not have noticed on your drive into VCC grounds. For 11 1/2 months out of the year, they are virtually unnoticeable as you drive in, either ready hit the golf course, play some tennis, enjoy Sunday lunch after church, or get a work-out in. This is the first tree to bloom in the calendar year and always gives everyone the sense of "spring is near, and with it, warmer temperatures". This particular species of Magnolia has an upside and a downside. The upside being that it is very unique to the Magnolia family in the traditional sense of the word, covering itself in white and pink blooms every February, however being a deciduous tree, dropping its leaves in the winter.
 The downside to this species is this:

Disclaimer: I couldn't figure out how to rotate the image right-side up. Just tilt your head, sorry.

 As you can see, this is the exact same tree as above, photo taken 3 days later, after a night of 23 degree temperatures and a hard-freeze. Every single bloom on this tree is now brown and now looks like someone unleashed a flame-thrower on it. This happens to this species of tree every single year, and it is very unfortunate. I wish I could tell you that there is some sort of special fertilizer or spray that you could treat it with to prevent this, but there isn't. Mother nature runs its course on this tree, year in and year out. Take a look everywhere else around Birmingham, and you'll see the same thing.

  Many Horticulture professionals I talk to seem to think that this species of tree will eventually learn to evolve and adapt to these conditions and eventually become immune to the hard winter freezes that ravage this tree at its most impressive moment. I, on the other hand, tend to disagree. While botanists and genetic scientists can try to come up with hybrid  and resistant species until they are blue in the face, I still refuse to think that certain species, Saucer Magnolia included, can adapt and maintain during the hectic (that's putting it mildly) weather patterns we experience in Birmingham, especially during the winter. Consider it collateral damage. However, during the one or two weeks that it is in its prime, next time you see one, take the time to slow the car down and enjoy this winter spectacle. It won't last long.