In honor of spring, a reblog from May 2017. Have a wonderful day!

The magnolia tree is a large majestic tree. The large white blooms are beautiful and decorate the Mississippi landscape. The magnolia tree has a long life span that may extend to 120 years. This is a possible life of a suburban magnolia tree.

The magnolia tree was born in a field in central Mississippi. At that time the field was filled with different types of trees. The young magnolia tree thrived in the ecosystem and grew to a large and healthy tree. There were few people in the area to disturb the ecosystem.

As the years past the magnolia tree began to put on beautiful white blooms. These blooms were numerous and an occasional person would happen on the tree and admire their beauty. The magnolia tree was happy and content in the ecosystem that nature provided.

Slowly over time the ecosystem became disturbed as people began moving closer to the field. There were rumblings of houses, businesses, and golf courses being built and getting closer to the field.

The pollution from all the building began to change the ecosystem. The environment was descending into a period of deep decline. There were fewer resources for the magnolia tree to draw from for survival. All around were plants and trees dying. This was frightening to the young tree.

As more time passed the magnolia tree began to see more human activity. There were more people passing by on a daily basis. This was a time of great change in the world and the tree observed young men in uniform carrying guns. The world was at war and the magnolia tree hoped that the field would be spared from the violence.

More years past and the world was again at peace. The magnolia tree noticed there was an expansion of young children surrounding the field. The tree watched as the plant life and other trees were cut down. It prayed its life would be spared from the death surrounding it.

The magnolia tree was spared and a local park was built around it. There began to be a large number of families coming to the park. A creek was created to supply water to the surrounding area and the ecosystem began to flourish once again.

The years passed and the magnolia tree was happy and content once again. There were many trees with squirrels and birds to commune with the tree. The families took care of the park and everything was in harmony.

One day there was a storm producing many inches of rain. The land was devastated by the sudden influx of water and debris. The people left their homes and the park was abandoned. The next generation of people moved in and had no interest in the park.

The magnolia tree survived the flood and was saddened by the changes. Now the abandoned park was filled with trash and drug dealers. All the surrounding trees and wildlife were dying around it due to neglect. The magnolia tree was frightened since its survival was threatened.

More years passed and a new generation of people moved into the neighborhood. They were a generation that believed in change and renewal. There were new homes built and old homes renovated and given a new life. The park was cleaned up and the ecosystem restored. There were sprinklers installed and the creek was restored to give the ecosystem the water it needed to regenerate.

Slowly the ecosystem began to recover. The magnolia tree was relieved and began producing beautiful blossoms once again. The squirrels and the birds returned singing their songs of joy.

The magnolia tree continued to observe these changes with great joy. Perhaps the people now occupying the neighborhood and park would remain. This thought gave the magnolia tree great hope for the future.

The years past and the magnolia tree grew to be extremely old. The park and the neighborhood continued to change but this time the trend of preservation continued. It was with great hope that the magnolia tree put on its last blossoms. Time for the magnolia tree to live in this physical world was growing short.

One of these great magnolia blossoms deposited a seed on the ground. This seed was nourished by the nutrients in the ecosystem. Soon the seed grew to be a young magnolia tree growing in a healthy ecosystem. The cycle of life began again in the park healthy and happy.

The old magnolia tree passed away and the shell of the tree returned to the ecosystem to help the renewal of life. There is gratitude for the privilege of living a long life and the ability to observe the changes in the ecosystem. The spirit of the magnolia tree now resides in Heaven and is resting in the knowledge of a life well lived.

copyright 2017 Debbie Pierce