Chicago Spring’s Second Seductive Wave: The Magnolia
As the first heralds of spring fade Mother Nature’s second seductive wave begins to bloom.
There is something dreamy about the way flowers begin to bloom over the early cold days of spring. Even as winter chills us in its icy grip, hope begins to bud in bright yellow daffodils, rich gem-toned crocuses, and the glorious blossoms of the magnolia tree.
Walking through the city in a garden I find the seductive powers of the flowers I see irresistible. Their blossoms invite me to slow down and take in their beauty. To receive it and contemplate their existence in this strange, cruel world as I contemplate my own.
The early heralds of spring are already beginning to fade, the crocus blossoms lay withered and beaten, the daffodils are shedding their pale yellow petals, but a second wave of nature’s transcendent beauty has already begun its own seductive cycle.
The magnolia trees found all over the city have finally begun to bloom. Their sweet perfume, ethereal and delicious, wafts down from pink-tinged white blooms the size of your palm.
It’s a sweetness that can carry your mind away from our mundane world to a place full of romance, wonder, and joy.
I see many like myself taking a few moments out of their day to let their spirits travel on the wings of this perfume to some other, better place. A place that will embed itself in our spirits if we only let it. A beauty that comes back with us that is renewed every spring, a promise of hope and new beginnings. A chance to get it right.
A place that we capture and preserve with hastily snapped photos or by plucking one of these gentle blooms so that it may grace their homes with that promise and beauty. But there is no need for that; it comes back to us every spring, all on its own.
The iconic white-to-pink blossoms are the most common and well-known of these enchanting flowers. Typically, six white petals the length of a finger unfurl from a pink bud and surround a center that is often either a soft ballet or deep, rich fuchsia pink. However, magnolia blooms can also be a warm buttery, yellow, lavender, or red. Some varieties do produce solid-colored petals as well.
These beautiful flowers are said to represent nobility, purity, and the divine feminine. They are also associated with grace and strength, thanks in part to the award-winning film Steel Magnolias. It is also because of their lengthy existence on this planet that we associate them with strength.
The magnolia blossom predates the bee, having evolved into existence approximately 100 million years ago. It is the lesser-known pollinator, the humble beetle, that spreads their pollen. The magnolia embodies a real-world hardiness that is impressive for something so delicate and ethereal in its appearance.
The seductive power of spring and these flowers isn’t just found in their otherworldly beauty and sweetness or their endurance through the ages, but in the seemingly effortless way, they embody both. When I look at these flowers, I don’t just admire their beauty. I think about how they weather the cold, thrive, and survive the nightly chill that still embraces the city. How they bloom rain or shine. I think about this and try to understand what it means to endure for 100 million years.
I think about these things and see them not only as an ethereal escape from the mundane but as a reminder to persevere, endure, and thrive. I think we can all seek to emulate not just the beauty but the strength of these flowers.
So the next time you have to run an errand, maybe don’t drive or use the bus. Walk and look for the magnolia with its wide branching arms; look for the flowers and the way they rain tender petals down to the earth. Take in their beauty, let their perfume carry you away, let it seep into your soul and renew you. But also remember their strength and let it bring steel to your spine so that you are both comforted and stronger in difficult times.
Do you love spring as much as I do? What’s your favorite flower or your favorite thing about Chicago? Leave a comment and let me know.
Alia the Savvy Writer 