Magnolia bud and bloom

JAPANESE WILLOW-LEAF MAGNOLIA BUD, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, APRIL 1, 2010

Pentax K20D
Tamron SP AF 90mm DI Macro
1/750 sec. f8
ISO 400


JAPANESE WILLOW-LEAF MAGNOLIA BLOOM, CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, APRIL 4, 2010

Pentax K20D
Tamron SP AF 90mm DI Macro
1/2000 sec. f8
ISO 400

On April 1 a golf-ball-sized bud was struggling to emerge from its furry carapace to become a large Magnolia salicifolia flower. When I returned three days later the bud had bloomed into baseball size, releasing its fragrance into the air. Spring has truly arrived.