The 100 Million Year Old Flower That Brought A Community Together

In 1969, one Brooklyn woman was fighting to protect a single magnolia tree. And her determination reshaped an entire neighbourhood.

In this episode, we explore the magnolia tree, its 100-million-year+ history, and the  story of Hattie Carthan, who protected the Lafayette Avenue Magnolia of Bedford-Stuyvesant through grassroots action. 

Being one of the oldest flowering trees on Earth, the magnolia tree predates bees and sharks, and we discover how the tree has managed to survive all these years. 

From its dinner-plate-sized blossoms to its medicinal uses and global popularity as an ornamental tree, the magnolia has been a symbol for thousands of years.

Listen now to explore the full story and reconnect with this wonderful plant.

Covered in this episode:

• The history of one of the earliest flowering trees - the magnolia tree.
• How Hattie Carthan protected the Lafayette Avenue Magnolia.
• Why magnolias are among the earliest flowering trees to evolve.
• The powerful impacts that the presence of trees has on us.
• The founding of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.
• Medicinal and dietary uses of the magnolia.
• How to grow a magnolia tree.
• And more…

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to Plant Connection on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

Magnolia Tree Earth Center - https://magnoliatreeearthcenter.org/ 

Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootstemleafblog/

Root Stem Leaf - https://www.rootstemleaf.com/ 

LISTEN

Plant Connection - https://plant-connection.captivate.fm 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZDb9ovKXRTomKYnyqF8Rv 

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-connection/id1801774758 

CREDITS

Script - Jacob Ashton (https://jacobashton.net/)

Research - Adriana Gogolin

Produced by Claricast.