Students of the elementary school planted this magnolia in ceremonies today. Some thirty years ago, on the 250th anniversary of the Ursulines in New Orleans I planted 10 magnolias in this Sacred Heart Courtyard to honor the first 10 Ursuline nuns who came to New Orleans from France. After sitting in Katrina's floodwaters for over 2 weeks the fully mature magnolias died. The building is the nuns' mausoleum which holds the remains of deceased Ursulines including the 10 who came to New Orleans in 1727.
I was asked to pour the water on this new planting; a gesture which touched me deeply.