It was just starting to warm up around here and we even had a few days in the high 60's and low 70's so of course my big old Saucer Magnolia begins to bud then the pink/white flowers begin to pop. This thing is SPECTACULAR for about a week then the petals go all white, then fall and make a giant mess to clean up. But while it's bloomed, it's beautiful.

This week JUST as the flowers are about to open, it got cold, really stinking COLD. Like brutal January cold with lows in the teens and wind chills in the low single digits at night.

The flowers are all brown and crispy now and in a week will turn an ugly black then eventually this all falls onto my lawn.

DAMMIT, this is the second year in a row this has happened! WTF!

I didn't know Magnolias survived up the frozen north

The Saucer Magnolia is a cold tolerant variety.

I have several Betty Magnolia's and they are a little later in coming out.

I have 3 types in our yard up north. Zone 4. My sieboldi is just about dead though. That’s more a summer bloomer. Bums me out. The other 2 are still going strong and thriving.

Squirrels have been eating the buds and flowers off my magnolia here in northern NJ.

I have steel Magnolias. No problem here.

When we purchased our home in 1994 there was a beautiful magnolia tree that all the older neighbors used to sit under in the shade with the previous owners and then us. We loved the tree but when it got sick (seeping sap and attracting insects) I paid a lot of money trying to save it.Ultimately had to have it cut down. Sad......

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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I have steel Magnolias. No problem here.

What about rust issues?

Ballistol works like a charm.