by hankinslawrenceimages | Apr 12, 2011 | Flowers, Magnoliaceae Family
Rosea Star Magnolia (c) 2010 Patty Hankins
One of the first trees to bloom in the spring in the Washington DC area are the Star Magnolia (magnolia stellata). They are usually in full bloom by mid-March – usually a week or two before the Cherry Blossoms hit their peak bloom.
Royal Star Magnolia (c) 2011 Patty Hankis
Star Magnolias are native to Japan. They grow up to 20 feet tall – with blossoms that form the shape of a star. There are at least 12 and up to 30 petals in each flower. The flowers can be found in shades of white and light pink.
Rosea Star Magnolia (c) 2010 Patty Hankins
Star Magnolias were introduced into the United States in the 1860s and quickly became a popular plant for landscaping. It is fairly slow growing and produces beautiful flowers early in the spring. They are commonly found in botanical gardens in the Washington DC area. I’ve photographed them at both McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda and the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.
Kikuzaki Star Magnolia (c) 2010 Patty Hankins
I hope you’ve enjoyed my photos of the Star Magnolias. I know I’m already looking forward to photographing more of them next year.
Royal Star Magnolia (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
by hankinslawrenceimages | May 2, 2009 | Flowers, Magnoliaceae Family
As I was photographing some of the magnolias in the DC area, I kept seeing varieties of Star Magnolias. The blossoms on these trees are unique. They have lots of petals, many of which curve and bend in the wind. Unfortunately, all the ones I was finding were past their peak. So the blossoms were shades of brown, with petals fallen away.
Finally, on a recent trip to McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, I found a star magnolia in full bloom. The one I photographed was a Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia Stellata). I just love the delicate beauty of the blossoms on this one.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
by hankinslawrenceimages | Apr 22, 2009 | Flowers, Magnoliaceae Family
One of the things I’ve discovered this spring is just how many types of Magnolias there are. On a couple of visits to the National Arboretum, I’ve photographed two types of magnolias – and seen many more varieties.
The most recent magnolia I photographed at the Arboretum was a hybrid magnolia named Judy. It is a cross between a lilflora ‘nigra’ and a stellata ‘rosea’ magnolias. I loved the various shades of pink in the petals.
My first photos were taken with the sun shining directly on the flowers.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
When I walked around the tree – I was amazed at how differnt the flowers looked backlit by the sun.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
This last one was photographed with my camera at a 45 degree angle – I just haven’t figured out how to display it so you can see it the way I saw it.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
If you like magnolias, be sure to plan a spring visit to the National Arboretum. Their Holly and Magnolia collection is wonderful.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Apr 6, 2009 | Flowers, Magnoliaceae Family
On my recent visit to the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, I photographed a spectacular Magnolia tree. It was a Verbanica Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana).
Verbanica is one of the later blooming magnolias, so it’s blossoms hadn’t been affected by recent cold weather as much as some of the other magnolias at the Arboretum had been. The tree I photographed is part of the Holly and Magnolia Collection located on Holly Spring Road.
The white and pink blossoms are amazing.
Verbanica Magnolia (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Verbanica Magnolia (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Here are a couple of buds just about to open.
Verbanica Magnolia (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
I’m still hoping to photograph some of the other magnolias at the Arboretum in the next week or so. It’ll just be a matter of being there on the right morning when the blossoms are spectacular. 🙂
