Magnolia's Are Flowering - It's Summer in Florida

One of the nicer advantages of living in the South (other than bearable winter temperatures) is the yearly late spring / early summer eruption of flowers of the Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) tree. You can learn much more about the ecology of this magnificent tree at this site.

I noticed the first flowering Magnolia tree yesterday and this morning there must be about 30 of them in bloom along the same route I followed yesterday. They will stay in bloom for about a month of so and then go into senescence by mid-June. That brings on the annual eleven month wait until they return.

There is no need to look at the calendar to know that summer has arrived this year. Granted the hot temperatures of the last couple of days are a good indicator but to me nothing is more summer-like in the south than an eye full of Magnolia blossoms everywhere you look.