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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Saucer Magnolia

Since my previous posting a few days ago, the Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana "Rustic Rubra") has opened and it is just gorgeous. Today, during my lunch hour, I wanted to get some photos before our weekend of rain arrived (and it has already started as I write this). There are lots of beautiful saucer magnolias all over town but they all seem to be the solid pink variety. I've yet to see another bi-color like this one. This is planted alongside our driveway and it is leaning toward the sun as a bank of hackberry trees fills the backside of it.











Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Tallulah's Antique ClosetMarch 5, 2011 at 12:57 AM

    That is a beautiful color! Thanks for sharing your garden and by the way I luv the red birdhouse. Have a great weekend....Julian

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  2. Karin / Southern MeadowsMarch 5, 2011 at 3:11 AM

    That is just gorgeous! I love the trees that produce blooms before the leaves come out. One can really appreciate the blooms. The rain puts a damper on the gardening chores but it is much needed. Stay dry!

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  3. JanMarch 5, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    Your magnolia flowers are so beautiful. The pink stands out against the gray sky. The rain seems to have finished off the flowers on the ones around here. Sad to see them go.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  4. F CameronMarch 5, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Love the color of that magnolia! I don't grow the early bloomers here, but I do love my sweetbay and the big southern.

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  5. DarlaMarch 5, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    and soon you will have a pink blanket on the ground around it.

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  6. EveMarch 5, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    They are so beautiful Phillip! Wish I had a magnolia! I guess I will have to put one on my list!!
    Thanks!

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  7. scottweberpdxMarch 5, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Absolutely glorious...love the two-tone effect!

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  8. NicMarch 5, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    Beautiful! I cannot wait for them to come into flower up here!

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  9. GrannaMarch 5, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    They are just beautiful!

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  10. MashaMarch 5, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    I love bicolor blooms, yours is so beautiful.

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  11. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)March 5, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Beautiful!

    Years ago I worked in west London and I always remember as I queued in the traffic through Ealing there was this enormous magnolia that was always early, city micro climate I guess, it never failed to give me a 'lift', a true rite of spring. The blooms on your tree seem to float, almost unattached. Wonderful blooms and equally wonderful photographs.

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  12. Fishtail CottageMarch 5, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Absolutely beautiful - that pop of color says spring is coming! thank you for sharing this - gives "hope" to everyone of us who is still waiting for something to bloom. xoxo

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  13. LarryMarch 5, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Hi Philip... your photos are fabulous of Rustica. I have a friend here in Wisconsin who has a very mature one that is wonderful. I have been trying to get one going for some years (tried a number of them) and finally have a success that will probably bloom at about 4.5 feet tall this season as the buds appear to be ok. This has been its second winter. I know that once this takes off, it grows very rapidly. I have never seen better photos of a Rustica Rubra than what you are sharing today... fantastic! Larry

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  14. AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

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  15. sweetbayMarch 5, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Beautiful! The flowers really do look like tulips with those light interiors.

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  16. LolaMarch 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    Hi Phillip, my magnolia is two toned also but not that color. I tried to get a good pic. today but didn't succeed. Will try again tomorrow.

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  17. KellyMarch 7, 2011 at 4:52 AM

    That is about the prettiest tree I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
    Kelly

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  18. Becca's DirtMarch 7, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    Phillip that is a stunning flower. Nothing like the southern magnolias in my yard.

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  19. Lisa BlairMarch 7, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    It is so pretty. There are a bunch of pretty pink & white saucer magnolias on the Ole Miss campus. Love them. How old is this tree?

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  20. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 7, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    It appears that spring is marching on in your garden Phillip.

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  21. debsgardenMarch 7, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Do you know the name of your magnolia? I have a 'Jane' magnolia which looks very much like yours. I love the bicolor flowers!

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  22. LesMarch 7, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    This is one of my favorite cultivars, and it is a shame it can be so hard to find. Your photos of it are very nice.

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  23. LisaMarch 8, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Really beautiful! Got to love those magnolias.

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  24. UnknownMarch 23, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Witam Filipie
    Piękna magnolia ,,bardzo podoba mi się jej kolor ciekawa jestem ,czy w mojej strefie klimatycznej by się utrzymała.
    Muszę popatrzeć u nas w Polsce za ta odmianą ,,,,podziwiam

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