Magnolia trees are in full bloom in gardens and parks here. I found this one in the centre of Shipley, just opposite St Paul's Church. They always amaze me - they look far too exotic for this cold little country and far too exuberant to bloom in early spring. In fact, many years they get blasted by frost and soon go brown. The pink camellia also in the photo is a little bit scorched in parts.
Here's a little known fact (well, according to Wikipedia anyway!) - the Magnolia genus is so ancient that it predates the appearance of bees, and evolved to be pollinated by beetles.
They truly are splendid trees/shrubs! Thank you for the enlightening info!
ReplyDeleteSoooo beautiful...Truly magnificent tree, thank you for this bright present Jenny! And it reminds me - once again- my childfood. We have - we still have- a very big Magnolia tree, always the first to give pleinty cream color big flowers before any thing else... even in a relatively walm country like Japan compared to Shipley!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Sunday!
When Mark was born, the courtyard behind the old maternity unit at Trafford General was full of magnolia trees, all in bloom. I'm thinking that he must have a birthday coming up :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! And great composition too! Have great day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Magnolia, our next-door neighbour has one of these and lucky for us, because we get the pleasure of their exoticness too!
ReplyDeleteWow..I didn't know they were SO old!
Magnolias really are magnificient. You still must be about a month ahead of us with spring in England...
ReplyDeleteBeautyful and gorgeous! With the blue sky behind, the spring mood is perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see the Magnolia in full bloom. Such a shame they're so short-lived, though.
ReplyDeleteInteresting fact about the Magnolia. What a beautiful photograph!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting about magnolias coming before bees! You are clever! How come there is all that blue behind the marvellous Magnolias? Would it be by any chance blue sky? or just a photoshop effect?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot! Love magnolias;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my place and taking the time to comment;o)
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Have a nice week****
Lovely shot and great info! I think you are about a month ahead of us with the spring flowers.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this wonderful blooming doesn't last long, here in Waterloo the flowers already lost part of there leaves
ReplyDeleteOh the magnolias are so lovely, you are so far ahead of us in the Spring dept. (we still have a tiny bit of snow in our shaded areas.) ~Lili
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