White magnolia drops a carpet of petals

Seen across the tracks from the beach promenade, this white magnolia is already casting off petals from its early wealth of spring blossom.

For the passengers on landward side of the Amtrak, it must be a momentary glimpse into magic as the train crosses that half-wild green hill between East and West Beach.

Behind this tree, we can glimpse a palm peeping over its shoulder.  Certain kinds of palms now thrive well north of its natural habitat on this, among the most southerly of Canadian coastlines.