Gallery: the magnificent magnolias of March
The claw
Of the magnolia,
Drunk on its own scents,
Asks nothing of life
Sylvia Plath, Paralytic
When I included some magnolia flower images in my recent monochrome spring flowers post it was to celebrate their sculptural forms in particular. But while black and white really emphasises those forms, draining them of colour isn’t to everyone’s taste. And to be honest the shapes are just as beautiful and distinctive in colour; while the different shades from pure white through delicate pinks to deep reds and purple are equally worth celebrating.
So here is a gallery of colourful magnolias, some shot this morning especially for this post, others from the archives. You may recognise some of the latter from their monochromatic incarnations!
The magnolia trees opened their great globe-like blossoms of folded ivory, and filled the air with a sweet heavy perfume
Oscar Wilde, The Birthday of the Infanta
I also experimented with the vintage filters in Color Efex Pro and rather like the results.
37 Comments
hardytardy
One of my favourites! They are just gorgeous when in full bloom, massive flowers in trees. Puts a smile on my face!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for discovering this old post – glad you share my love of magnolias!
hardytardy
I think they’re amazing 🤩
Annie Berger
What a treasure trove Ealing is for you as a photographer, Sarah! Once again, you’ve captured so many lovely images.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Annie – yes, we’re lucky to live in such a ‘green’ suburb 😀
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maristravels
I was just admiring some today in front gardens not far from me. I do wish I had room for one, and a cherry blossom tree too would be nice. Your images are superb. I think I shall quietly hide the ones I took today!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I’d love to have room for one too, but at least there are a lot around here to enjoy 🙂 And I’m sure your photos are lovely too!
Pat
They are so beautiful. I hope I get north before the magnolias are finished.
Sarah Wilkie
I hope so too – when do you go?
Pat
End of April.
thehungrytravellers.blog
The magnolia season is so short lived though, isn’t it, Sarah. Always seems to be about five minutes from bloom to destruction by wind.
Sarah Wilkie
I know! Maybe that’s why I feel compelled to try to capture them on camera?
Aletta - nowathome
Gorgeous magnolias Sarah! The colours are so beautiful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Aletta 🙂
Sue
I love a good magnolia
Sarah Wilkie
Me too – I just had to get out on a photo shoot before they were past their best!
Sue
I used to have a wonderful magnolia in my last abode
Sarah Wilkie
I’d love to have one but we don’t really have the space 🙁
Sue
Mine was a Magnolia Susan….not massive, they grow to 6ft
Sarah Wilkie
That’s about the size of our garden at the back (I exaggerate a little) and more than twice the size of the front one (NO exaggeration)!
Prior
You are so right that flowers in black and white (drained of color) have a purpose but miss a lot without the color!
And your flowers in this post showed the power of color (even if subtle and toned down and the softest of pinks)
And a celebration of magnolia
I. J. Khanewala
Drive you to alliteration, don’t they? So lovely
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, yes – you spotted that!
I. J. Khanewala
🙂
Yvonne+Dumsday
For some reason, only the last four pictures are showing on my screen but they make me all the more impatient to see ours in flower.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s odd Yvonne. I seem to remember that you’ve had problems in the past viewing my photos when I put them in one of those galleries. What device are you using? I need to look into why this happens, although so far you’re the only person to have mentioned it.
Heyjude
Much as I am a fan of playing with editing software I have to say I prefer the first gallery, and again the images against a plain background.. Magnolias are fabulous, time for me to visit Lanhydrock again!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for the feedback Jude – I too agree the plain backgrounds work best, which is perhaps the reason why I felt the need to fiddle with those more ‘cluttered’ shots? I remember going to Lanhydrock as a child on family holidays but that would always have been in the summer, long past magnolia season!
wetanddustyroads
What a stunning first photo Sarah! I love-love the bright colours … your pictures makes me happy 😊.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 🙂 I think we all need a dose of bright spring colours right now (and yes, I do realise you’re heading into autumn down there!)
restlessjo
Aren’t they glorious? Not many around here. I remember a couple of gardens in my UK hometown that I used to keep an eye on for their appearance. And you’re right- not for very long, but lovely.
Sarah Wilkie
So many people around us have them in their front gardens in addition to a large one in the park 😀
restlessjo
🤗💗
margaret21
Lovely! But they’re taking a bit of a risk aren’t they, showing their faces already?
Sarah Wilkie
No, March is pretty normal for them to bloom down here 🙂 All these photos were taken in March of various years, the earliest of them on the 16th (the 2016 one). We’re due a colder spell next week but significant frost is a rarity in these parts after mid March so they’re probably OK. And anyway they don’t last long even in favourable weather conditions!
margaret21
True. They’d better not wake up till April here, and even that’s risky.