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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Magnolia Grandiflora


Isolated showers were in the weather prediction for today. We really need some rain since we haven’t had a drop in all of five weeks. Turns out they were so isolated we received only a moment’s drizzle early this morning that at best left the foliage with a dewy appearance. However, the overcast skies offered some fairly good conditions for photos on an early morning walk about the garden.

I couldn’t help but snap a few photos of the one magnolia blossom that opened on a lower branch of the tall tree this morning. Standing on my tippy toes I was able to capture the center of the south’s magnificently scented bloom. The intoxicating fragrance of these flowers had me standing close by and taking deep breaths of fresh lemony air.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Moisture: Southern magnolia is extremely drought tolerant. It does best, however, in rich, well-drained, acidic soils.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-9. Newer cultivars have extended the range in which the southern magnolia can be grown northward into Zone 5!
Propagation: Southern magnolia grows rapidly from seed. Cultivars are grafted onto seedlings of the species or started from cuttings.

9 comments:

  1. That Magnolia is gorgeous. I can almost smell it too. MMMmmmmmm

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  2. What a beautiful bloom. I love white flowers, they always look so pure.
    Have a happy Sunday.

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  3. Lisa: If only we could smell the fragrances of each other's gardens and the other thing I wish we could convey is the morning breeze or the peaceful feeling of a walk through the garden... alas the internet connection can only do so much. BUT if you ever get this way to visit those relatives ...

    cheryl: Thank you. I am VERY partial to white flowers... I prefer them over yellow for brightening up any arrangement or vista. They show up really well around Hoe & Shovel under the shade trees.
    Happy Sunday back to you... I'm heading off to church in a little bit.
    Meems @ Hoe&Shovel

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  4. So beautiful! I don't know what a magnolia smells like, but I can imagine :)

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  5. Lovely blooms, I like the colors of a garden best on over cast days, don't you think that some colors shine? I do love the fragrance of a Magnolia...and the color is a spectacular white turning to yellow as it ages.

    Last summer's drought killed many Magnolias in my neighborhood...the limestone bedrock carried rainfall away too fast. It's sad to see the carcass of a magnificent tree.

    Gail

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  6. Amy & Nancy, thanks... imagine the softest yet sweetest lemony-lime fragrance that awakens your senses to freshness... now breathe deeply.

    Gail, I indeed DO think the colors show up best (and some appear differently too) when the sun isn't washing them out--- especially for the camera. Sad to hear about the damage the drought did to the magnolias... such a wonderfully full tree all year long.

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  7. i am lamenting over leaving my magnolias @ our other house. we have none here. that is my next big purchase. i eye them wherever i go. i love the all white picture you captured.

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  8. That almost doesn't look REAL! Beautiful!

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  9. marmee: the only down side to magnolias would have to be their large leaves dropping underneath the tree. It doesn't really bother me because my tree is located on the NE side of the house. Plenty of room for leaf-droppage. SOOOO -- you should get several with all the room you have!

    Kylee: I'm finding myself lately finding reason to be gardening somewhere close to the magnolia. It is getting even fuller of these almost unreal looking blooms and the fragrance in the air is exotic and heady.

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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