Two months ago I published a brief introduction to using the leaf scars as a way of identifying trees. One of the examples I found was the Mountain Magnolia on the edge of my property. The long purple buds an easy identifying trait but packed up tightly inside that bud is one of our finest natural treasures.
The leaves inside the buds are probably the largest of our native trees. Young princess trees have a much bigger leaf but the mature princess trees leaves are tiny compared to mature mountain Magnolia. Inside that bud is several leaves that can be twenty inches long and eight inches wide. I think that the one in this image is too young to flower because I’ve never seen it bloom. But in the surrounding forest there’s others that put on some of the beautiful floral shows on my mountain. When fully open they’re average is ten inches in diameter with a fragrance that is unmistakable.
At this stage the flowers are just starting to open and I’ve always thought that they reminded me of doves rooting as a flock. The whole property is filled with a sweet scent and in recent days this is where the Eastern Towhee has been. He sticks to the shadows and flees any time we come out to see him. His favorite hiding place is in the thick undergrowth beneath this tree where the large leaves shelter him from both sun and rain.
We’re so blessed with wildlife here that it’s almost impossible to pick a favorite. But I really do look forward to seeing these beauties.
This particular tree was one of the first to spring up after the Derecho of 2012 leveled my forest. Ever since the Mountain Magnolias have been a sort of symbol of hope for me. Beauty often springs from brokenness.
The small seedlings that came up to grow didn’t flower for a few years. I watched as year after year they graced the landscape with their huge leaves but no bloom.
I’ve always commented about how opportunity slips so easily into the past. But it’s also true that the past carries away our sorrow as well. As the Magnolias and their companions reclaimed what the storm had broken I began to see that beauty doesn’t fade as much as it goes into a transition. The larger trees that fell made room for the seeds that lay dormant waiting for their turn to grow.
The flowers are only open for about two weeks and easily bruised by rain. The cones in the center will form a bright red cluster of berries that are dispersed by birds and squirrels. A lot of them will simply fall to ground and leave a black lump that’s often mistaken for bear scat. You can have a little bit of fun with your younger siblings by pointing them out and implying that we’re not alone.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup
Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
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Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
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