Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Magnolia on the Rocks

I captured my newest favorite magnolia picture right here at home. 

After spending several frustrating minutes trying to take a picture of a Little Gem Magnolia blossom on one of our trees which was being blown "hither, thither, and yon" (don't you just love that expression!), I finally gave up, clipped the flower from the tree, and plopped it down in a makeshift plastic vase.  It wasn't pretty, but I was taking closeups and the container was for support only, so it didn't matter if it was pretty or not -- at least it was still!


After a few minutes, I realized that I was bored and decided to try something different.  I took the magnolia clipping and put it in the small pond area of the water feature in our courtyard, and took several (about 60-70) pictures of it floating around the pond.  Magnolias are beautiful in any setting, but now it was much more interesting than it was when it was in that plastic vase!


I love the contrast between the soft white petals and the rich earthy tones of the rocks in the background ...
I like the transparent reflection of the white petals underneath the flower.  
As I was shooting, I noticed that the magnolia was slowing turning in circles, as if it was trying to help me capture its best side ...





The magnolia's final resting place of the day was on a rock in the pond, with the late afternoon sun shining on it like a spotlight. 


And that's the story of how I captured my newest favorite Magnolia of the season.  Hopefully, it won't be my last.

5 comments:

RachelD said...

I absolutely have no words. Yours and these magnificent photos stand alone.

The Subtle Details said...

Your photography is such a gift. Thank you for sharing with us. The magnolia is stunning and your pictures have help me make a decision to plant one in our backyard this year....it was between a magnolia or a dogwood...I thank you and my husband really thanks you for helping me make a decision :)

Richard Cottrell said...

Your pictures are beautiful. I am so sad as my magnolia trees suffered so, here in Missouri, with the long, cold winter they had to deal with. My two trees have lost most of the leaves, few still falling. They have buds and new leaves are trying, but they seem to be weak. Might be because we have had 2 weeks of cold, below normal. weather here. I think I asked you for help before about my trees. I took your advance and waited to see. I am not sure I will get those beautiful, prized, blooms this year. Our season is running so late. I am just hoping that soon, maybe next year, they will be back and I too can enjoy those amazing blooms. Thanks so much for sharing and listening. Happy Day. Richard

Sue said...

These are beautiful Janie, I know you not only enjoyed their beauty, but their fragrance as well, thank you for sharing.
Sue

Backroads Explorer said...

Here in southern Indiana we can only grow the green and brown leaf magnolias. My mother told me that there is a new hybrid out that has miniature blooms on them. Magnolias are my favorite flower and tree. Thanks for the photos. I could almost smell them.