Coming from The Netherlands it is quite different in climate and for having already warm days in May, with many exotic looking flowers in the wild, was quite a discovery.
Here I am on a Sunday, end of May, 1984 holding up a HUGE Magnolia Grandiflora or Southern Magnolia.
Also I'm holding a branch of Lonicera japonica Thunb. or Japanese honeysuckle that has been introduced to North America in 1806 in Long Island, NY.
Now it is a national invasive species!
In the spring, even when driving by car, you still do pick up the sweet scent of its fragrant flowers.
Oh my gosh the magnolia bloom really is grand Mariette, have never seen them so big. I am surrounded by the perfume of my jasmine as I sit here.. very much controlled though in a plant pot 😉
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteYes, this is actually the largest Southern Magnolia bloom we ever saw. I'm just holding a branch with blooms that we took home to identify.
Oh, jasmine perfume is such a delight... Enjoy it!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletethose flowers are really HUGE, and wonderful!
Do you still have this Magnolia in your garden?
Have a lovely week,
Love and hugs, Claudia xoxo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThis indeed was the largest flower we ever saw.
We have two magnolia trees at our present home, in our garden.
Hugs,
Mariette
What a wonderful flower. Do you still have magnolias now in your garden?
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Mariette.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYou bet, we have them in our garden! There are at present 36 posts, below under Labels, with Our Magnolias.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I love Magnolia Grandiflora and remember seeing them for the very first time many years ago around the Italian lakes.
ReplyDeleteThey tend not flourish well in the northern half of our country, but thrive very well in the south. We have just been in Devon and I noticed that several of their large Magnolia Grandifloras are currently enjoying a second flush of blossom which were a delight to see.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteOh sure, in France and Italy you will find them. We have one double blooming fragrant Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno' that hails from France. Some years they do yield a second blooming period indeed.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteSouthern magnolias are magnificent. Unfortunately they will not grow this far north.
Honeysuckle is one of those deadly beauties. I have seen it strangle and kill fifty foot oak trees.
Dearest Suzi,
DeleteGuess that Virginia will be about the line for them to thrive well.
Honeysuckle can indeed become very invasive and is a vigorous grower.
Hugs,
Mariette
Gosh, the blossoms are HUGE. We don't have those here, too cold, I expect. In early spring our magnolia trees with their pretty pink blossoms are a delight, though.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteYes, they were HUGE indeed, we were pleasantly surprised when discovering them!
No, they don't grow in the northern part, too cold. We too have the Japanese Magnolia that show off their pink blooms early spring.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hej Mariette, Wat een grote bloemen. Prachtig! Zo groot heb ik ze nog nooit gezien. Mooie foto ook. Fijne week en lieve groet.
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, dat waren uitzonderlijk grote bloemen, ook voor ons!
Blij dat we de foto hebben.
Liefs,
Mariette
That is indeed a huge magnolia! And it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI found the climate in Georgia similar to that in my hometown in Japan, though summer seems longer here. I enjoy four seasons :-)
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteThe climate here is so different from back home where it is a lot colder and wet days for most of the year.
We both were quite impressed by this magnolia blossom size.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeletenice pichture from you as you was young :-)
Invasive species, do i understand right, Magniolia are now growing from itself in the nature?
Best regards
Bernhard
Dear Bernhard,
DeleteNo, the invasive species I referred to was the Japanese honeysuckle that I'm also holding inside my hand. And yes, some big Southern Magnolia trees can be found in the South, growing freely, obviously from seeds. It also is the Mississippi State Tree.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow, it's been a huge and beautiful flower!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteIt sure IS!
Hugs,
Mariette
Es una adorable flor.
ReplyDeleteSe te ve la juventud que tienes en esa foto.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteSupongo que también era mi hora de la flor pico...
Abrazos,
Mariette
We have these ROUND HERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. MAKES THINGS SMELL SO GOOD.
ReplyDeleteDearest LV.,
DeleteYou must be referring to the Japanese honeysuckle. Yes, they smell heavenly!
Hugs,
Mariette
oh... that's really huge flower! Real grande flower... Thank's for sharing
ReplyDeleteDearest Endah,
DeleteYes, that is really HUGE.
Glad you liked it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Such lovely flowewrs
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteYes, they are very lovely!
Hugs,
Mariette
Was 84 That Long Ago - Keep On Keeping On
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteIt went by in the blink of an eye...
But we sure keep on going, just biked together in the sunshine!
Hugs,
Mariette
Never knew, two people can be so same. I have a similar photo with a grand magnolia. Oh I so love them. Where I live before in an apartment, the dwelling had magnolias everywhere. They got bigger every year! Have you seen red ones. We have red ones in New Delhi.
ReplyDeleteDearest Naqvee,
DeleteThank you and just like you, yes I do love plants, flowers and nature in general.
In India the Magnolia Grandiflora is also called ootahmbal, meaning 'tree lotus' which is perfect. Those red ones are another variety however, not the huge Grandiflora. They do produce red seeds but that is it. This Grandiflora is native of the southeastern US and only thrives in warmer areas. Just looked at our special book: THE WORLD OF Magnolias by Dorothy Callaway.
Hugs,
Mariette
Plus, you look absolutely stunning. How memorable must have been that day!
ReplyDeleteDearest Naqvee,
DeleteThank you and yes, we both will never forget this discovery and we're happy that we captured it well on camera.
Hugs,
Mariette