Flying Saucers?

What Is This? It's Not A Flying Saucer.

Flying Saucers?

Remember when UFO's were called flying saucers? That was a fifties term.

I have two saucer magnolia trees and each has been producing these beautiful magenta colored blossoms since March. In March the two trees just had blossoms and no leaves. They kept producing blossoms while the leaves came, grew and now look like this. They will keep producing blossoms I think until the leaves drop this fall. I recommend planting one of these saucer magnolia trees because of the long bloom period. Now back to that term flying saucers. I'm wondering if the hurricanes that are stacking up in the Atlantic might turn my Virginia skies grey again and turn these saucer magnolia trees into flying saucers. Time will tell. If it happens, I think it will be because of Hurricane Hannah's weather track although someone last night said that Hurricane Ike is the one we need to worry about here in Virginia. Again time will tell. In the meantime, while we are waiting for the hurricanes to make landfall somewhere on the east coast take a look at the top photo and make a guess as to what that thing is in my yard. It is white and currently has a green succulent growing in it. Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with flying saucers but does have a connection to succulent gardening in the southwest. I will tell you the answer Saturday.