Just a little early

This Saucer Magnolia on Rt. 1 thinks it is spring. Although March 1 is the beginning of meteorological spring, this tree typically blooms in April. There are two of these trees within a mile of each other, and I wonder what the story is. They are very close to the highway, which tells me they have been there a while, possibly planted when the road was only 2 lanes wide.

The main feature of this tree is fragrant white-pink flowers that bloom in the spring. Flowers are quite large with a saucer shape, hence the name. This tree is known for its tolerance for alkaline soils and windy conditions.