Flushed with colour and filled with sweet perfume, the precocious magnolia is Spring's most recklessly beautiful flowering tree (Patrick Lima, Canadian Gardening - Spring 1998)

Many cities around the world are known for displays of flowering trees - and people travel from around the world to visit these wonderful places. The flowering cherry trees of Kyoto, or the rhododendron gardens of Kashmir. Other cities have festivals that revolve around grape harvests, apple harvests or other seasonal events. Savannah is famous for its magnolia lined streets, and entertains thousands of tourists who come to enjoy the spectacle. Our city could host a wonderful display of magnolias. Some people think that Owen Sound is in a colder climate than it is, but we are in a more temperate zone than communities to the south of us, and this is worth celebrating. Many magnolias are very hardy (Magnolia 'stellata', Magnolia 'soulangiana', Magnolia 'loebneri', among others, including the newly developed yellow hybrids). There are plenty of varieties and colours, and the fine old saucers growing in our downtown attest to their ability to thrive here. A mature magnolia will bring its owners and neighbours much joy in the early spring.

Given a limited budget, the most effective expenditure of funds to improve a street would probably be on trees - trees can transform a street more easily than any other physical improvement. (Urban planner Allan B. Jacobs in Great Streets)

We believe that our city streets could be made more beautiful - there are so many front yards aching for trees and flowers. Front yard gardening is something that Communities in Bloom has been promoting, and Owen Sound is improving every year. It is our hope that others will be able to envision our city streets alive with flowering magnolias. If you are thinking of planting something this spring, consider the magnolia. They bloom about the same time as Mother's Day, a tree would make a lovely gift. It's also good for our environment - tree planting is essential for our future. If you don't have room in your own yard, but would like to support this project, consider a gift to a neighbour or park.