The Magnolia Mile: Rooting For Our Community

At The Magnolia Company, magnolias are everything.

Go figure, right?  It’s almost like that’s in our name or something…

Over all our years of agribusiness experience, we’ve learned a few things about patience, growth, and most of all, community.  Our clients aren’t just people who buy our products; they’re folks who care about sustainability just as much as they care about admiring nature’s beauty. 

Thanks to your support, our Floridian family business is so much more than we ever imagined! Acres upon acres of gorgeous magnolia groves, a massive team of expert growers and artisans, the opportunity to work with amazing clientele from all over the United States (and even an international community!) – it’s a dream come true. We really enjoy what we do!

When people like you trust us with your business, we put in every effort to give back.  From the highest quality handmade products on the market to leading by example with cutting edge technology that enhances our commitment to environmental stewardship, you know you’re helping shape the world for the better. 

What We’ve Done

The last two decades witnessed all manner of amazing projects, most of which are thanks to amazing partnerships with local government, the scientific community, the agriculture community, and even historical preservation organizations.  Here are just some of the things you’ve helped us accomplish!

Operation Water Saber

This project was by far our biggest investment in recent years, and it’s all because the environment deserves to be cared for just as much as it cares for us.   In partnership with our local government and environmental science community, we installed a water reclaiming system, so that no drop of water or nutrients goes to waste on our farm.

By digging a retention pond and irrigating our groves, we collect as much natural runoff as possible.  The irrigation system uses the reclaimed water to water our trees.  Any amount of nutrient runoff or fertilizer (which we already don’t use much of) gets redistributed to the trees and kept out of our natural water sources and groundwater supply as much as possible.

Colonial Williamsburg

Thanks to a connection one of our founders, Matt Roth, made, we had the privilege of visiting the Colonial Williamsburg historic preservation site.  Maintained entirely as a nonprofit organization, the preserve boasts an accredited and highly decorated collection of botanical gardens and arboretums. 

The arboretum in particular is unique, since it’s home to a 200 year old magnolia tree that’s still happy and healthy as ever.  With our minimally invasive and sustainable propagation techniques, Matt was invited to go and take cuttings from this magnificent cultivar.  Those cuttings still thrive on our farm as genetically identical progeny of the Williamsburg Magnolia, allowing anyone to have a piece of colonial history in their yard!

The Fungus Among Us

Part of being in agribusiness is going to trade shows.  We’ve been everywhere, meeting what feels like everyone from across the country, and boy, have we learned a few things!

One of the coolest things our resident plant nerd (that’s Matt again) learned about was the symbiotic relationship between fungi and trees.  Funguses have massive underground networks that work like information and nutrient highways, and when these networks bond with the roots of trees, the trees grow stronger and healthier than unassisted trees. 

It’s like fertilizer that isn’t actually fertilizer, and it’s one of the best ways we care for our trees.  There are also lots of beneficial bacteria that aid in this process, and we’re really getting down to business with utilizing nature’s microscopic heroes.

The Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association & The Washington Magnolia

Our newest partnership with the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association runs in tandem with our Colonial Williamsburg project.  On top of having the privilege of cultivating cuttings from the Washington Magnolia, we’ve also been able to craft a gorgeous dried wreath for auction by the nonprofit. Just imagine….a wreath made from the magnolia stems of a tree that George Washinton himself planted. History doesn’t just get to adorn your yard; it adorns your home too!

Up Next: Reaching The Next Generation and Our Community

Our biggest undertaking this year by far is the Magnolia Mile.

We’ve always tried to engage the next generation with education about the environment and the importance of caring for our natural ecosystems.  In the digital age, “touching grass” (as the kids say) is more important than ever.  When people connect with nature, they learn to respect it, to care about it, and most of all, they learn how to protect it.

Field trip outreach is only part of what we offer to our local community, and we have no intention of stopping.  But, we want to do even more: reach more people, touch more hearts, and ultimately cultivate a community of environmental stewardship across generations.

The Magnolia Mile

Matt Roth is the inspired mind behind a lot of the endeavors at The Magnolia Company.  We’re talking about a man who’s at his happiest when he’s elbow deep in dirt, surrounded by hundreds of trees – each of which gets his individual attention.  He’s an outstanding dad to four amazing kids… and thousands of magnolias. 

Here’s what Matt has to say about his experience:

“Have you ever gone somewhere that makes you feel like ‘wow, this place is bigger than me?’ There are certain places that I’ve gone where I want to take my kids because those places are bigger than me – than any of us.  Of course, I’m partial because I spend my life here, but when I get up next to those trees, it’s that same awe-inspiring feeling: this is bigger than me.”

The amount of respect Matt has for nature’s wonders is unparalleled.  This project, The Magnolia Mile, was inspired by “a lot of prayer, and a lot of peaceful mornings in the groves.”  It’s Matt’s mission to share his inspiration and his awe with his community. 

“It’s an intangible feeling, and I want other people to experience it, too.  I think it connects us to our Creator in a way that only nature can.”

What Is It?

The Magnolia Mile is exactly that: a trail of incredible magnolia cultivars that spans a full mile (yes, Matt’s measuring).

When it’s complete and fully grown, the mile long stretch will be an arched pathway of beautiful trees, complete with vignettes that spread education about agribusiness, the history of The Magnolia Company, environmental conservation, and the importance of nature in our lives. 

On top of being used for education, Matt wants this spot to be an accessible place for the community to just come and be out in nature. 

You can’t love what you don’t know, and this project helps bridge the gap between two strangers: people and nature.  It’s symbolic that way – a bridge of trees that reach up towards each other and down towards humanity.

When Will It Be Complete?

Phase One of the Magnolia Mile began last year, as we started moving trees to the land designated for the pathway.  It’s a seasonal project, because we can only move trees in the winter while they’re dormant.

If we try to move the trees in warmer temperatures, we risk stressing them out and watching them wither. We do a lot of root pruning when we relocate our trees, which is always risky and best suited to the winter. Our focus is helping these cultivars regrow their roots in the warm seasons by nourishing them with phosphorus and a folic acid compost.  We’ll complete our relocation efforts (our “March of the Trees”) in winter of 2025 and 2026. 

Parting Thoughts from Matt Roth

“I think a lot of people just don’t know the behind the scenes efforts towards preserving our ecology and our environment.  Farming really gets a black eye for the perceived damage it does to the environment.  I’ve learned it doesn’t have to be that way, and when you see the effort, it’s so important – for young kids especially, to see our natural world and connect with it.  If they see and respect and love it, they’ll care for it.”