WRITEOUT 22
WriteOut 10.06.22 Daily Walk Digital Journal
The Magnolia— is really Magnolia Stellata
Magnolia Stellata in Spring
This is plant I called a magnolia tree earlier in the WriteOut 2022, but it is really the Magnolia Stellata—star magnolia. It is a shrub cultivated in Japan and now is planted all over the world, sometimes spreading on its own. It does look like a small tree, though, because it grows up to eight feet tall. And the blossoms bloom before the leaves in early spring.
Above you see some of the “pussywillow” type buds and one early, waxy blossom in April of 2018. But soon, all those buds will bloom, often before the leaves providing a beautiful and much needed color from the doldrums of winter.
Magnolia Stellata Leaves Sketch
I decided I would sketch the leaves and those buds I thought were pussywillow because of their fat and furry nature.
Magnolia Stellata—star magnolia Leaves and “pussywillow” type buds in October, 2022 
Magnolia Stellata—star magnolia Leaves and “pussywillow” type buds Sketch October, 2022
Magnolia Poetry
Of course, we must include a little poetry…
Magnolia Stellata in Autumn
Waxy green leaves of star magnolia
Sheri Edwards
turn a soft yellow with each cool day;
soft pussywillow-like buds seem to sing
“my leaves will drop, but just wait until spring!”
10.06.22 281.365.22
Poetry/Photography
I tried to include the visual, the name, and a bit of metaphor towards the future.
- Visual — waxy green leaves, soft yellow, buds
- Name — the plant name in the title and poem
- Metaphor — buds sing of spring with flowers and no leaves
What will you write, sketch, and note in your journal today?
What is WriteOut?
This post is part of my participating in in this year’s “Write Out”– a joint venture by the National Writing Project and the National Park Service to encourage people to get outdoors. This year’s Write Out is STEAM- Powered (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) from October 9-23, 2022. It’s free. It encourages writing and making and sharing about your own experiences with the outdoors in a local event, on your own, or with the Write Out activities you can find here.