MOMENTS IN POT CULTURE: THE MAGNOLIA

Words by Jessica Peace

‘Flight of the Magnolia’ (1944), is part of Paul Nash’s ‘aerial flowers’ series. On a trip to Devon his mate Gillian Barnard handed him a Magnolia blossom, he made just a quick sketch but kept thinking back to it. He wrote to Barnard, ‘the magnolia became airborne and it took to the element as a duck to water ... If you like the picture, feel you helped to make it or indeed caused it.’

‘Sugar Magnolia’ was one of biggest hits for the hairy, folky, psychedelic space rockers The Grateful Dead: ‘...Sweet blossom come on under the willow / … We can discover the wonders of nature / Rolling in the rushes down by the riverside...’ Yeah mayyyyn.

Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Sally Field, Julia Roberts and a cast of loads more of our 80’s favourites in Herbert Ross’s ‘Steel Magnolias’ - It’s an emotional ride.