Trees We Can See
“That would make such a beautiful picture,” says art lover Astrid Bray, pointing to the palm trees and pink magnolia hanging over Melbury Road. On the far side of Kensington High Street, more pink magnolia is in full bloom on Edwardes Square along from The Scarsdale Tavern. New pink magnolia trees have been planted by the Council on the pavements too. Like American singer-songwriter Amy Grant’s new song, Trees We’ll Never See, the full bloom of these trees will be enjoyed by the next generation.
Artist restorer Denise Cook says, “Magnolia trees are very primitive plants. They are closely related to other primitive plants such as buttercup flowers and water lilies. Magnolia is one of the most ancient of trees. It was food for dinosaurs. That’s why so many of the species are so tall and carry leaves high up their branches. They existed before the continents drifted apart and are found in a band around the earth from Asia to the Americas. There’s a really lovely magnolia tree from the US in the Chelsea Physic Garden.”
