Magnolia virginiana

In my experience, few flowers in the world smell better than this beauty.

 It was picked yesterday before the high winds and rain blew through Springs. It is one of my very favorite flowers in the world. Magnolia virginia, also known as sweet bay magnolia, swamp magnolia or laurel magnolia. It is an evergreen and can grow up to 100 feet tall. The terrain in which it grows expands from the East coast to the Deep South. It may be deciduous as well as an evergreen and grows as far South as Cuba. The flowers are an elegant cream color and can grow to be quite large. I have seen them almost as wide as a foot. The flowers are fleeting, they turn brown and begin to decay almost immediately after being cut from the tree. 

Several years ago, a dear patient gifted me one from a magnificent tree that grows outside this persons home. The flower was enormous and fragrant beyond words. It was through the photograph of that enormous magnolia image, that I was introduced to another  magnificent person. Each time this beautiful magnolia blooms I am reminded of two very kind, generous and heart centered people in my life. 

         As this beautiful tree grows taller and fuller each year, there are more flower buds, and promises of its perfume. For years, I have tried to identify it in other plants or in perfume absolutes and oils. Nothing has ever come close to the magnificence of this scent. If one ever has the chance to smell one of these flowers, I highly recommend it, what a delight. It can be smelled from may feet away. It transports the imagination to an aromatic verdant oasis. 

The mature fruit are bright red and can be seen from far away because the color is so bright and alluring. When I taught my second botanical art class, I brought the cone and the fruit to the class to share with my students. It was such a beautiful specimen. I love the flowers as much as I love the cones and crimson red fruits.