Magenta Pink

Today started of lovely and sunny, great to get the washing dry. Then just around lunch time the dark clouds arrived. I thought the weatherman may have be right about rain we were to get this afternoon. After a few hours of clouds and no rain it all cleared off and sun came out again. There are some interesting clouds around so we may get a good sunset soon.

There are a lot of Magnolia trees in our street that have just starting to come into flower. They look so beautiful in their different shades of Magenta, Pinks and White. I did hope the rain and frosts stay away so it doesn't damage their beautiful delicate petals.

The earliest western record of magnolias in cultivation is found in Aztec history at the time of Montezuma where there are illustrations of what we now know to be the very rare Magnolia dealbata. This plant survives only in a few places in the wild and, although climate change is largely to blame, the natives cut the flowers for festivals and this prevents the plants seeding. It was found by a Spanish explorer called Hernandez who was commissioned by Philip II of Spain and whose work was published in 1651.

Magnolias are however one of the most primitive plants in evolutionary history and fossil records show that magnolias once existed in Europe, North America and Asia over 100 million years ago.

Some of the earliest references to magnolias in literature refer to their purported medicinal properties. Anyone who has smelt the peculiar smell of magnolia sap and what an alluring smell it is - will see how likely this was to appeal to those involved in medicine. The flower buds of Magnolia salicifolia are used in Asia to treat headaches and allergies.  A 1985 study reports on the potential use of this drug in the treatment of cancer.   Another recent study found that tonics from the bark of Magnolia officinalis lessen tremor in patients with Parkinsons disease.   Who knows what may yet be discovered.
For more information on the Magnolia.


I was told by follow blipper VIki yesterday that I was on the radio news about my experiences of September 4, 2010 earthquake. I told my son today and he looked it up. Here it is and it also tell about more about what happened on the day of that earthquake. There were other people that gave their experiences off that day so was shock they used my one.