February 25, 2018

Three Magnolias

     This week the weather door creaked open, and we experienced glimpses of early summer, with  several days in the 70's, all the way to 80 yesterday. Open windows in late February is not the norm. Friday was an exception. It barely made to 50 with cold, dank air. It never really rained, but a mist fell all day, and I never could seem to get warm. However, it made for some good photo ops on the early blooming magnolias at work. Deciduous magnolias are lovely trees, but not every year is a good one. Often they open early, only to have winter make a comeback, turning their delicate petals brown. I wish I had a garden large enough to allow space for tree that big that only blooms for a long week under the best of circumstances.

Magnolia x 'Todd Gresham'
Magnolia x 'Todd Gresham' (6)

Magnolia x 'Todd Gresham' (7)

Magnolia x 'Todd Gresham' (4)

Magnolia x 'Todd Gresham' (1)

Magnolia denudata
Magnolia denudata (5)

Magnolia denudata (8)

Magnolia denudata (7)

Magnolia denudata (6)

Magnolia denudata (2)

Magnolia denudata (4)

Magnolia × loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Magnolia × loebneri 'Leonard Messel'  (3)

Magnolia × loebneri 'Leonard Messel'  (1)

Magnolia × loebneri 'Leonard Messel'  (2)

     No matter the weather you may be experiencing, I do hope you will consider participating in my 2018 Winter Walk-Off

13 comments:

  1. Gorgeous blooms like that will brighten anyone's day. February seems so early but beating out the foliage must be the name of the game. Swings in weather are difficult. We had similar days this week when it was just too miserable to go outside and work and I couldn't even get warm inside. I spent the day wrapped in a blanket! But the garden was loving it, especially after a dry winter.

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    1. Except for January, we really have not been that cold. Just wet, dank, and overcast with little sun to lift spirits, so I will rely on magnolia blossoms.

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  2. Replies
    1. Lisa, I can only take credit for the photos.

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  3. Oh I wish I lived in your climate ... just not your political climate. lol. Oh to see the Magnolia trees blooming. You thought 50F was chilly and I'd think it was crazy mild.

    That last tree is amazing. How old is it ?

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    1. Sybil, yes the political climate here is dismal right now. Fortunately most of the circles I travel in are filled with people who feel the way I do, and those that don't are polite about it, as am I. I would guess that last tree is 40+ years old.

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  4. Yummy to say the least. Hoping to see some 40+ degree days this week, so Magnolia blooms are still a long ways away. Hope you are doing a bit better these days.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. I am feeling a little better. I hope you get the weather you want.

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  5. And here I thought that browning problem only happened in our northern gardens. Now I know better.

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    1. Hey Kathy. We usually get one really good year out of the magnolias out of 3 or 4. This may be one of those.

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  6. Your magnolias are way ahead of ours. While you have been having warmer than-usual temperatures, we've had record-breaking cold. Thanks for the glimpse of what we've got to look forward to!

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    1. You are welcome, Peter. Even though our early warmth gives me concern for the climate as a whole, I can't stand the thought of record-breaking cold.

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  7. Stunning. Especially Magnolia 'Todd Gresham'. I love the two-tone leafs.

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