Why Magnolia Buds Turn To Flowers

Granny, Granny quite uncanny

How does your Magnolia grow??

When a little boy pees,

The next day he sees,

The flowers have all bloomed in a row.

Yep.  That’s exactly what happened at Grandma Cindy’s house.  Please don’t think we are bad grandparents, besides his parents were here too, but isn’t this just another great reason to have children?

Here’s how the story goes.  Youngest grandson #5, came to visit.  Being 4 years old and not wanting to take time out from playing to go in and use the facilities, we simply said, “Go behind that big bush.”  That big bush happened to be a Magnolia, which for those of you not from the Midwest or familiar with this botanical beauty, it blooms in the springtime with gorgeous pink and/or white flowers.  Now, #5 is no stranger to gardening.  Back home in Colorado they have “lived off the land” sowing seeds, growing vegetables, and harvesting their fruits of labor.  So, while doing his thing, he noticed “little fuzzy things” on the “tree”.  Unknowing, at this time, what was going to transpire we proceeded to educate him on what exactly the “fuzzy things” were… being buds that would turn to flowers.  At this point we were very good grandparents (I was not alone in this).  It’s what came next that was questionable. 

 

“Did you know if you water them they would blossom?”  Well he did his best and low and behold…. The next day they were Flowers!!!  We told him how wonderful he was that he made our Magnolia’s bloom!!  He can turn buds into flowers!  Oh the excitement.  Who was going to be the one to steal this little boy's thunder?  Not us.  Now we just wonder what’s going to happen if he “water’s” his vegetables….. Good luck with that Mom!!