{Our Fragrant Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno'}

• One of our most prized trees and a very rare variety, is this double flowering Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno'. 
• It received its name from the French hybridizer Delaunay from Nantes, who made it commercially available in France from 1865 on.

• It was exactly in 1711 when the Saint Michel, owned by merchant, shipowner René Darquistade, did bring back from Louisiana, USA this rare double and fragrant Grandiflora Magnolia. 
• Following this arduous journey it struggled for twenty years. 
• It should have been destroyed as it was not a happy tree with no flowers. 
• But the wife of the gardener, out of love for plants, and by intuition, did plant it in a more sheltered area to protect it from the cold winds. 
• Now it prospered and rewarded those that saved it, by blooming within a couple of years. 
• This meant also the beginning of fame, as the most famous botanical luminaries from the region came to admire and pay tribute to its immensely delicate double fragrant cream flowers. 
• The rest is history: 
• Nantes is long famous for its huge collection of some 500 magnolia species. 

• This photo shows the birth of a new leaf and a bud forming a fragrant double magnolia.
• The species is native to the South of the United States from the Carolina's to Florida and till Texas.

• Wish I could transmit its fragrance...
• How must the French gardener's wife have enjoyed the fruits of her tender care! 
• Funny that it came from Louisiana to France and we again got it from Louisiana!

• Tell you what... I spray those magnolia leaves golden for Christmas decorations!

• Now stepping back, so you get to see where this 'garden aristocrat' lives...

• From our bedroom we can see it and each time we drive onto our driveway into the garage. The bedroom is on the second floor above. 
• You see how scorched the grass is already from the drought and heat?

• We only sprinkle the trees and shrubs; not the lawn...
• Here you see the golden live oak Quercus virginiana 'Grandview Gold' (left); they came together from Louisiana.

• Come October, you can see these bright red seeds...

• All three trees you see here, are evergreen which makes it kind of tropical looking...
• Golden live oak; magnolia and windmill palm - see: {Our Garden White & Icy Today as Snowstorm Slams South} with icy palm from snowstorm in January).

• This Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno' has a perfect conical form and is huge already.

• Now let's walk to the other side of our home where we do also have a Southern Magnolia, a Grandiflora that is not fragrant and not double; but nevertheless pretty.

• Hope you enjoyed our Southern Charm!

Related link:

UPS 2nd Day Air Delivery from Louisiana Nursery + Fight against Tuberous Roots of Greenbrier! | where we ordered all our special and exotic trees and shrubs

{Mazus Reptans Alba - Groundcover with Snapdragon Flower}

In early April we do have this striking groundcover, Mazus reptans 'Alba', blooming behind our gazebo. A carpeter from Asia with bright green leaves and tiny white snapdragon flowers. In German it is called: Himalaya-Löwenmäulchen weiß. This Himalayan native is invasive, but easily controlled. Showy white flowers, with a velvety texture and a deep yellow blaze on the lower petal, truly set 'Alba' apart from the lavender flowered species of Mazus and from other groundcovers. Very durable and easy to grow, with a prostrate spreading habit, trailing stems and rich mid-green leaves. Perfect among paving stones as well. The hyperlinks also show availability. This nursery even calls it a 'Classy Groundcover with interesting and unusual mini-orchid like spring blooms.

So let's have a look at this little gem: join me on a Garden Tour.

{Aesculus pavia -- Red Buckeye}

• Our garden does indeed have an endless variety of surprises; day by day! One walks and discovers new blooms that were not there a couple of days ago. 
• But by mid April it was this year the most yielding time of year, as far as blossoms. Exactly at the time we were about to leave for Florida. 
• BUT we took some photos before and one by one (by subject) you will get to see them here. Aesculus pavia by its botanical name or Red Buckeye by its common name is from the Family: Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnut Family). 
• They do produce large nuts but those are poisonous to humans if mistaken for true chestnuts! 
• If you click the hyperlink you get to see the nuts as well. Their blooms are so pretty in red; have a look! Join me for a Garden Tour.

• This photo I took on April 8.

• This was even taken before, on April 2nd.

• April 2nd

• April 8th

• The entire shrub, near our gazebo next to the wooden walking trail.