Chinese Version
03-29-2021， Monday，Sunny and strong wind
I didn’t know that the star magnolia could be such a huge tree, as I had only seen the petite-sized star magnolia in the Filoli Gardens previously.
In Filoli in the Silicon Valley, the small and thin stems of a short star magnolia tree have long Spanish moss hanging on them. The grayish-green colored lichens growing on them indicates the star magnolia tree is an old slow-growing tree. However, the star magnolia flowers are very delicate and beautiful, they are full of life, contrasting with the ancient moss and lichens on the branches. Standing beside the blooming star magnolia tree, short and aged, I felt its quiet and magical immortal spirit.
One afternoon at the end of March in 2021, I visited the Boston Public Garden and there were very few visitors because of COVID-19. I lingered around a very tall star magnolia tree there, as it was very impressive to me. I stood close to look up at the star magnolia blooming under the blue sky, and I walked away to watch the tree from distances and I saw a golden weeping willow, next to the star magnolia tree, dancing in the strong wind. It was such a beautiful sight, the tranquility and beauty of the metropolis.
Looking up at the very tall star magnolia tree with flowers, the ethereal spirit connected with the star magnolia tree in my memory disappeared. On the contrary, I felt an earthly vigorous connection with the star magnolia tree here. The same plants have very different body structures (very short vs. very tall) in different places, I felt the magic of nature is really infinite.
Looking up at the name tag of star magnolia on the trunk, my attention turned to the scars on the trunks, there are decades of footprints of countless vows of love by a few generations. I felt the scars on the tree trunk are mini-sceneries of wishes for lasting love.
Walking around the huge star magnolia tree, I seemed to ride on a memory high-speed train, enjoying magnolia flowers back in my hometown of Zigong, watching the tall yellow-colored magnolia flowers and the short star magnolia flowers in Filoli garden in Silicon Valley, visiting the magnolia liliiflora planted by the cardinal in 1951 in Mystic Seaport.
“Flowers out of the soil, beauty without makeup.”
Flowers easily pleased their lovers.
Little Episodes
1. In the Boston Public Garden on Monday afternoon, the blooming star magnolia, her tall trunk, and a golden weeping willow in front of her.
Spring travel, Boston Common on a Monday afternoon:
Star magnolia, delicate and in full bloom.
Its scarred trunk recorded countless vows of love.
A few people, strong wind, and good scenery.
2. Zigong salt bureau’s white magnolia is in my memory. Filoli’s star magnolia and yellow-colored magnolia are in the picture.
3. In the spring of 2020 pandemic, my daughter and I often took a one-day tour driving on the empty highway. One day we went to Mystic Seaport, a quiet town, and saw a magnolia liliiflora tree planted by a cardinal in 1951. Magnolia is really noble as my mother told to me when I was little.
