“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3:7
Happy Thursday lovely friends and as always, I am so glad you are here. If my memory serves me well, I am doing something I haven’t done before…spotlighting a single bloom on a blog post. Long-time readers know that we have lived in our home for forty years. It was built when we were very young…our house was situated in the middle of pasture land, so there wasn’t an over abundance of trees. Three large and very old oak trees along with a cedar tree fronted our home and that was about all. The very first tree we planted was a Southern magnolia. At this age, I wasn’t aware of what I wanted in a landscape, but I knew I wanted a magnificent magnolia in my front yard.
Before we get too far into this post, I wanted to show a couple of tablescapes that highlight the beautiful magnolia bloom.
A single magnolia bloom makes a statement on this table!
This is our forty year old Magnolia Grandiflora commonly known as a Southern magnolia. It is native to the Southeastern United States and it dots the lawns and landscapes all over our northeast Alabama town!
As you scroll through the photos, I have tried to organize them to show you the stages of a magnolia bloom.
The Southern magnolia is a medium to large evergreen tree which may grow to 120 feet, but normally between 60-80 feet with canopies spreading 30-50 feet wide. We estimate ours to be around 30 feet. They grow on average 1-2 feet per year, classifying them as a slow grower.
It is a long-lived tree that can survive under the right conditions for 80 years or more. It grows in a pyramidal shape.
The leaves of the Magnolia Grandiflora are a glossy dark green that are stiff with a leathery texture. They may grow up to 7 3/4 inches long and 4 3/4 inches wide. The underside of the leaf is soft to the touch and a rusty brown color. The downside of a Southern Magnolia is that they drop their leaves 365 days a year.
The fragrance of the blooms as they begin to open is intoxicating. Its scent has been compared to lemon citronella.
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The large and showy white blooms are up to 11 3/4 inches across, imagine a large dinner plate.
They may have six to twelve waxy petals on a single bloom.
This bloom has nine petals. As you can see, gnats are attracted to the scent!
The blooming time for a Southern magnolia is May – June. Ours will typically start in late April or early May and continue through mid June.
While researching, I came across some interesting information that I was unaware of…you didn’t know you were going to get a history lesson today, did you? An iconic Southern Magnolia was planted nearly 200 years ago by President Andrew Jackson near the South Portico of the White House.
It was reputedly planted as a seedling from Jackson’s Tennessee home, The Hermitage. It was the oldest tree on the White House grounds and was so famous that it was for decades pictured on the back of the $20 bill as part of a view of the South Front.
There was a tradition of gifting cuttings or seedlings grown from the tree. President Reagan gifted a cutting to his Chief of Staff Howard Baker upon his retirement and Michelle Obama donated a seedling to the “people’s garden” of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The tree had been supported by metal poles and cables since the 1940’s when the tree suffered a gash that caused a large section of its trunk to rot. It was decided in 2017 from the advice of the National Arboretum to cut down and remove the famous magnolia because the trunk was in an extremely fragile condition and the supports had been compromised.
After the blossoming time is over, brown cones are left with bright red seeds. Birds love to eat the seeds and it also becomes nourishment for squirrels, opossums, and turkeys which are plentiful around our home!
Not only are the blooms beautiful and enjoyed but so are the leaves. During the Christmas season they frequent my tablescapes!
They make beautiful garlands for mantel and doors like this photo I took last Christmas of the entry at Chez Fonfon in Birmingham.
My Renaissance Man makes his Williamsburg fruit fan every year with the waxed magnolia leaves.
Do you have a magnolia tree in your landscape, I would love to hear your stories! Thank you for your visits and the comments that you leave. Wishing you a joy-filled day and weekend sweet friends!
Resources: Wikipedia, Southern Living
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, A Stroll Thru Life, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home, Love Of Home, Celebrating Everyday Life, Little Farmstead, Rustic & Refined, The Freckled Rose, Life and Linda, DIY 180, Celebrate & Decorate, Me and My Captain, Shabby Fufu, Designthusiasm, Imparting Grace, Calypso in the Country
Pam, You captured each stage of your blooms so beautifully of your Magnolia Grandiflora! We have a magnolia tree that is probably 30 years old. The blooms are so high up on the tree and out of the reach of my lens! I love seeing your tables and that magnificent garland. Happy Thursday ♥
Thanks so much Mary. Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Such an interesting and informative post on a very lovely southern beauty.
Thank you for visiting!
Magnolias are such beautiful blooms, wonderful to see it used in holiday decor.
Thank you for your visit Carole!
What wonderful pics & information on the magnolia tree in various stages Pam. Your tree is magnificent and provides such lovely garland and beautiful blooms. Have a great day! Clara ❤️
Thank you dear Clara, have a most wonderful day!
Thank you dear Clara. Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Hi Pam
We have a magnificent magnolia too. Right now it is full of blooms on our country property here in Georgia. The tree was planted by the man who built this house, about 50 years ago. We bought this house two years ago, and were lucky to get this gorgeous tree on our lawn. I would say it’s about thirty feet tall. We enjoy it so much. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures and the history on your magnolia tree. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Judy, how wonderful that you have that gorgeous magnolia. I love their waxy leaves and fragrant blooms. Have a lovely Memorial Day Weekend!
Oh, Pam – how beautiful. I can still smell them, we had one in our yard in VA. Yours is beautiful and is grown the way the tree is meant to be. Many under cut them and to me, that changes their magnificent beauty. Unfortunately, it is too cold for them in our area. There are a few scattered about and they just don’t look happy, they want to go south.
Your photos of them in their stages of development are wonderful. And the tablescape in your garden of the one lovely bloom in the pretty green vase is just beautiful.
Dear friend, I know you treasure the glorious beauty of your tree, garden and your wonderful home. Have a lovely day.
Thank you Sandra. How I wish I could grow lilacs…every part of the country has climates that will only grow certain things. We enjoy the beauty that is shared from our neighbors to the north. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful Magnolia Tree and the history and science of the Magnolia. I can also smell the fragrance from your descriptions. Unfortunately we don’t have Magnolia’s up North. It truly was a wonderful day a to start my Thursday.
Thank you for your visit Pamela. Magnolias are truly a Southern tree. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
The magnolia is one of my favorite trees. You have captured it perfectly. The Christmas swag is just amazing. Your quote is perfect. I have memorized several of your quotes…another great talent! I can envision a book of pics with quotes!
You are so sweet Dianne. Blessings and hugs my friend!
Sweet friend Pam….you are so kind to give us a history of the magnolia blossom (and the one from the White House) I enjoyed all the stages of a bloom.
I adore magnolias and each time I see one in bloom from our near-by Burger King and McDonalds parking lots…yes, our fast food restaurants use them in the landscaping….I wish I had one in my garden.
We do have gardenias and night flowering jasmine in our garden…but a magnolia would make me feel like a true Southern Steel Magnolia…..LOL….all I would need is a pretty southern fan.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful tree. Hugs
Kari, you must have a magnolia to be a true Southern Steel Magnolia, and yes a fan! Thank you for visiting. Hugs!
We have a baby tree we were given less than a year ago. Our location is iffy, but it made it through our very cold winter. Loved your post!
JoAnn, I sure hope it survives. That was a good sign that it survived its first cold winter.
So enjoyed this lovely and informative post! It’s too cold here to grow the trees, so this was a treat to see and learn the very interesting history.
Do you save and gather the leaves throughout the year for your Christmas wreaths, or just prune in December? I was curious how one does that…
Thank you Pam!
Pam, I love Magnolias, and this post is beautiful! And thank you for the history lesson; that was interesting. The majesty of Spring delights me!
Thank you Patti. I have thoroughly enjoyed spring, but I think summer has arrived with our highs in the 90’s. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Hi Sue and thanks for your sweet visit. For wreaths we gather leaves the first of December. If they are to be used outside we dip them in floor wax and let them dry before using. This preserves their beauty. I haven’t ever made a thick garland like what was on the restaurant door. That would be a huge undertaking. There are places that make them, but they are quite expensive. But, I might try that this winter. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
That is so interesting! Thank you Pam!
Best wishes to you and yours for a lovely Memorial Day Weekend too.
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My dear friends, what an immense magnolia!
The tree is great
I really liked seeing the whole process of how the magnolia flower grows, it’s spectacular! That beauty…
The texture of the flower is incredibly strong, and its beauty without equal.
Everything in it is of interest, I love the seeds with that intense color and everything they tell us. It has been an excellent lesson in botany.
Thank you, friends, for showing this beauty that you have been educating with love and dedication. All this has its reward, which is nothing more than the satisfaction of seeing the result of so much attention.
What a wonder is nature!
A big hug friends.
Dolores, gracias amigo por tus encantadores comentarios. La Magnolia es verdaderamente un árbol del sur con flores fragantes. Fue interesante para mí investigar y aprender más al respecto. ¿Tienes un árbol similar en España? Me encanta cortar flores y ramas para traer a la casa, su fragancia llena la casa. ¡Te deseo un maravilloso fin de semana!
Is there anything prettier than a Southern Magnolia in full bloom? They seem to be extra magnificent this year, my son picked some blooms from our tree {a special gift from my sisters 15 years ago} They were so beautiful and I wanted to use them on a table but I ran out of time…I hope they’re still in bloom when I get back in mid June. I really enjoyed the history and several facts I had not heard, thanks Pam! Your photos are stunning!
Jenna
Thank you Jenna. Have a wonderful time on this holiday weekend and enjoy the beach and family time!
It’s clear that those beautiful blooms are divine no matter what the season! At least, if you’re working them!
Thank you Jeanie!
Your tree and table are magnificent. We plan to plant some magnolias in the new yard most likely the Little Gem. I used to create magnolia projects using my neighbors huge tree. Miss that tree!
Thank you Shirley. I know your gardens will be amazing in your new home.
Oh, there is nothing that compares to the sweet fragrance of the magnolia! Such beautiful sequencing of photos, Pam! The reality is your tree is likely 45 or so yrs old, given it was already a sapling when planted.
Ours (well, the new owners’) just started blooming a few days ago. On a walk through the neighborhood, I stuck my nose into a bloom at eye level, and I swear I could still smell that sweet fragrance the rest of my walk!
I will miss my magnolia, and must find one of neighbors who won’t mind my cutting a few branches every now and then!
Thank you Rita. You are correct, it was a sapling and was probably 4 -5 years old. I know you will miss much about your lovely garden, but you will have more time for new adventures. Are you settled in your new home?
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Pam, pulled my last load out of the house today, and auctioneer will take the rest. I have some garden supplies in the garage that I’ll use to dig up plants after vacation next week. I’m so excited, I’ve worked so long to get to this point!
What a great story about your magnolia and the one about the White House magnolia! Magnolia’s up here do not get that kind of leaf and stay more like a shrub. I used to have one and miss it’s fragrant blooms!
Thank you Liz. I guess they are truly Southern trees.
I loved reading about magnolia trees! How I wish I could have one of the small ones in my garden! My mother loved magnolia trees because the house she was born in (built by her father) was on Magnolia Avenue and the house we lived in when my twin brother and I were born was on another Magnolia Street. I have always loved them because of that!
Truth be known, there was probably a magnolia tree tucked into the Garden of Eden to make Eden official. Your depiction of the blossom’s development is illuminating. Mr. Renaissance
stole my heart when he appointed his impressive workshop with his Williamsburg homage to
the Christmas season using this essential element of décor. We place another arch of apples
at the top of our interior staircase for good measure. You and Butch inspire me constantly with
your spiritual verses and creative spirit… I just may plant another magnolia this year…. A blessed
weekend to all, dear Pam.
Amazing!How precious and treasured your Magnolia is!
Thank you Maristella!
So loved your blog on one of my favorite southern blooms! I always think the fallen stamens resemble match sticks. The scent is so nice to bring indoors. Enjoy your blog immensely…keep up the great southern displays! Enjoy the holiday weekend, and if like here in coastal NC, the summertime hear wave!
Thank you dear Linda. I have a magnolia bloom on my dining room table and its fragrance is amazing. The weather has turned hot!
What beautiful stages of the growth. Here in the NE we cannot grow such beauties sadly but enjoying yours virtually!
Thank you for your visit Suzan!
Loved your ode to the magnolia! Since our suburban yard isn’t nearly the size of yours, we planted a magnolia cultivar “Little Gem” that is somewhat shorter and more compact. It eventually grows 20 to 25 feet tall and flowers sporadically through the summer with 8-9″ white flowers. I’ve used the leaves in centerpieces, but not yet the flowers. I’ll have to change that!
Little Gem is much more manageable, they are planted in lots of our public spaces in our city!
How clever is our Creator! ♥
Bless you Pam,
Jennifer
Yes He is!❤️
Your photos of the magnolia bloom from bud to berries are so beautiful. Your post would have been wonderful if it stopped there but I loved that you included the history of the Magnolia at the White House, I had never heard about before.
Thank you Karen, I just discovered that history and thought it was interesting!