{"id":2216,"date":"2025-02-20T16:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T16:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/?p=2216"},"modified":"2025-02-28T14:58:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T14:58:24","slug":"living-history-making-a-wreath-from-the-george-washington-magnolia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themagnoliacompany.com\/blog\/living-history-making-a-wreath-from-the-george-washington-magnolia\/","title":{"rendered":"Living History: Making a Wreath from the George Washington Magnolia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You don\u2019t find history in books.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sure, you\u2019ve read about history in history books.  You also had to suffer through plenty of lectures in school on US history, European history, state history\u2026 lots of history.  Maybe you were one of the lucky ones who either loved learning about history, or you just got the talented teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, any decent teacher or history expert knows history isn\u2019t a collection of pages barely held together by a used and abused grade school textbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s fossils in the ground that eventually end up in museums.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s battlegrounds turned grassy hills preserved in historic sites, like Star Fort in old 96 or the Castillo San Marcos Fort in St. Augustine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s every national park you\u2019ve ever visited or plan to visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History is a living, breathing concept kept alive by the generations who remember and preserve it.  Sometimes, the nature of history is exactly that: nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we\u2019re bringing you two stories of historical trees we\u2019ve had the honor of working with and the people who made it possible along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Living Legacies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Magnolia Company is no stranger to collaborating with growers from across the United States.  Plants – especially remarkable ones – are kind of our thing.  So, when we get calls about trees with unique stories, we\u2019re over the moon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Old Friends: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Years ago, one of our company owners, Matt Roth, made a connection with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  This 501(c)3 nonprofit organization strives to preserve the remnants of the colonial settlement in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The estate boasts educational workshops, museum installations, tours, and, most importantly for plant lovers, an impressive botanical garden and arboretum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arboretum in particular has world class distinction, with its Level II accreditation by ArbNet – the only international industry standard for arboretums.  This designation is no small feat: to obtain it, the staff and volunteers at the estate maintain over 100 unique species of trees and woody plants.  (Can you imagine?!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To further distinguish themselves and secure their Level 2 accreditation, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation maintains a network of educational programs, which are open to the public.  With more than 30 historic gardens, 20 Virginia state champion trees, and 2 national champion trees, this arboretum is an East Coast must-see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Williamsburg Magnolia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Among the foundation\u2019s prized trees is a magnolia grandiflora<\/em>.\u00a0 Most folks know this tree by its common name: the Southern Magnolia.\u00a0 Thanks to the care of the gardeners with the Williamsburg Foundation, this tree stands on the grounds of the Nelson-Galt House and it\u2019s the oldest magnolia on site.\u00a0 Towering over 65 feet tall, this 200 year old tree (yes, you read that right) is a piece of living history that dates back to 1820.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to our friends at the foundation, Matt was honored with the privilege of taking cuttings from this tree.  A tree that\u2019s over 200 years old is made of some seriously hardy stuff, and through our propagation techniques, we\u2019re able to grow identical saplings from this tree, offering pieces of living history to our clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Colonial Williamburg here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Old Friends, New Places<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re proud of our work with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  Next time you\u2019re in Virginia, go visit and enjoy all of the amazing education and beauty the preserve has to offer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matt\u2019s friend at the foundation eventually moved on to other projects, and they were kind enough to keep The Magnolia Company in mind.  Now, we\u2019re thrilled to announce new partners in historical collaboration: The Mt. Vernon Ladies\u2019 Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Mt. Vernon Ladies\u2019 Association<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

No one asked this group to form.  In fact, after George Washington\u2019s death, his estate fell into disrepair (as many things do when there\u2019s no one working to maintain them). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter The Mt. Vernon Ladies\u2019 Association.  In 1853, a group of women got together and set to work forming the oldest national historic preservation site in the continental United States.  It opened in 1860 to the public, and according to their website, the estate witnessed over 96 million visitors over the last 165 years.  To this day, the estate averages one million visitors each year, and it\u2019s open to the public 365 days a year.  True to its formation and to honor the efforts made by its founders, the Association is managed by a Council composed solely of women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Mt. Vernon Association is a nonprofit with 501(c)3 status, it receives no government funding.  The preservation is funded and maintained entirely through visitor revenue, fundraisers, and donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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