One more time

One more magnolia picture.  And why not?

 

Magnolia time

The magnolias have finally started their bloom.

 

Magnolias at last

Each magnolia flower only last a few days, but the season lasts for months.  The trees let their blooms open one by one.

 

Star Magnolia

The pedals were translucent in the sun.

 

Snow on the Magnolias

Don't laugh, but we got 2 inches of snow!   All the kids dug out their sleds.  

The city shut down! 

 

Magnolia

Each magnolia flower only lasts for a day or two, but the trees just keep flowering.  Magnolia season lasts a long time.

 

First of the Magnolias

The first magnolia flowers are opening.

 

Big Leaf

This tree is surprising to find on a hike.  The leaves are huge.  I think it's either a Big Leaf Magnolia (see here), or an Umbrella tree (see here).  I vote for the magnolia.

Another Magnolia

It seems that there's always a magnolia blooming.

Magnolia season

This magnolia blossom was the size of a large dinner plate.

Tulip Magnolia

Here comes spring!

Flowering Magnolias

It's magnolia time again!  You can smell the lemony odor before you even see the flowers.

Magnolia seeds

Believe it or not, growing up in California we lived on a street lined with Magnolias.  We used to use the red seeds like sidewalk chalk, writing, drawing and making hopscotch marks with them.  They were a pain though when you ran over them with your roller skates and came to an abrupt stop.

Finally they bloom

The Magnolia trees have been teasing us with their buds for weeks.  Finally they are in full bloom.  Now I see why the magnolia flower is a symbol of the South.  The large size, lemony smell and glossy leaves make these flowers special.

Ready to Pop

 The magnolias are finally ready to pop open.  The trees look like  Christmas trees with candles ready to be lit.  A few buds are starting to open.  You can already smell the sweet lemony smell.

Tulip Magnolias

These flowers budded bloomed and were gone within a week.  They left pedals like huge snowflakes below the tree.