Magnolia in Rest

I planted a star magnolia on our property over 20 years ago. It is a “cold-hardy” variety and the hope was that it would survive our zone 3 to 4 Vermont winters. The small tree grew well in our old mid-Atlantic environment and it was one landscape plant that I did not want to give up with the move to a colder climate.

It has been transplanted once since I originally planted it – when I re-designed my Vermont garden – and has grown into a beautiful speciman. Because it blooms in early Spring, the buds have been subjected to freezing temperatures, the delicate flowers have often been damaged with a late frost but the plant suffers through it all and continues to grow. It has been the subject of many of my photographs over the years. Is it possible to get so much joy out of one small tree? A resounding YES!

Over the years, some of my favorite photos: