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Thread: ? about magnolia cones

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  1. #1
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    Default ? about magnolia cones

    Sorry if this has been addressed before but I looked & couldn't find the answer. With the magnolia cones do they need to be a certain color before they are ready to give to the squirrels? I saw a thread where some were for sale but they were pink and in my area now they are mostly green. I am not at all familiar with them so didn't want to give them to my sqs if they are not "ready" yet. Hope this isn't a dumb ?

    Thanks!
    Kathy

  2. #2
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    Default Re: ? about magnolia cones

    In my book when seeking knowledge, there are no dumb questions.
    I have a magnolia tree right out my back door, if the outside squirrels are any indicators as to when the cones are best it's when they are green. They seem to prefer the smaller green ones compaired to the larger ones or the ones that are starting to brown on the edges.
    On one of my Annie's escapes she grabbed a small green cone and was going to town on it and had no desire to come out of that tree. When she dropped it she was so intent on getting it back she ignored my standing there and came down the tree to get it. I was able to just pluck her off a branch, so I'd have to say it's the green ones.

  3. #3
    Tickle's Mom Guest

    Default Re: ? about magnolia cones

    Green ones, smaller sizes - Tickle and Scram loves them cold from the frig

  4. #4
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    Default Re: ? about magnolia cones

    Reminds me -- Leigh are you selling any yet? My guys LOOOOVVVED them last year!
    Island Rehabber
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  5. #5
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    Default Re: ? about magnolia cones

    That's great info! I've always wondered about Magnolias. Thanks everyone!

    And just to confirm, a "magnolia cone" is the flower before it unfurls right?

  6. #6
    mpetys Guest

    Default Re: ? about magnolia cones

    Quote Originally Posted by MiriamS
    That's great info! I've always wondered about Magnolias. Thanks everyone!

    And just to confirm, a "magnolia cone" is the flower before it unfurls right?
    Here are my guys enjoying magnolia cones. The cone is similar to a pine cone. the mature cones holds the seeds. The seeds are a favorite of wild squirrels. I used to collect the cones trying to find seeds (they are bright red) so that I could try to grow some trees but the cones were almost always stripped of the seeds!

    I believe the flower has what is called a fruit cone and when the flower leaves turn brown and die and fall off, the cone grows into the magnolia cone.
    Last edited by mpetys; 04-28-2012 at 08:31 AM.

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