Magnolia

Today's the day .......................... to be pink

If the colour of something (eg paint) is described as being 'magnolia', you would expect it to be a non-descript sort of creamy beige - and pretty boring.

That seems a bit unfair when magnolia flowers range from purest white right through to this deep pink that I saw today.  Magnolia trees are looking spectacular this year - perhaps saved from any really hard frosts. 

Magnolias belong to an ancient genus - taking their name from the French botanist Pierre Magnol.  Apparently they appeared before bees did, and it is suggested that the flowers evolved to encourage pollination by beetles................................