What a magical specimen of a thing!  I was given the most amazing bunch last week by a gardening friend and can’t believe I didn’t get around to photographing them until only one was left standing!  These flowers are intoxicating….their perfume so delicate yet heady at the same time.  Our kitchen smelt like a dream for several days….I felt like I was floating!

A magnolia grandiflora was the very first tree we planted at Glenmore.  And it languished, and languished.  I don’t think it ever put out a single new leaf.  It just stood there, for years…..until we moved it, and now its ever so slightly larger, but 25 years of growth would have been welcome!  A few years ago we planted a specimen of the variety ‘Little Gem’.  It’s growing.  Slowly. Very, very slowly.  But it does send out flowers from time to time and I treasure each and every one.  So to receive a whole bunch?  My friend has green fingers, and she says she’s been watering them this year!  Thank you Tina for such generosity – I do HOPE you’ve been able to pick as many for yourself – they were MUCH enjoyed!