The Magnolias in the Garden

This is the magnolia in our front garden today. The white petals hang down and flutter in the wind like a swarm of white butterflies. We bought it as a small plant from Caerhays Castle in Cornwall. The gardens at Caerhays host the largest collection of magnolias in the United Kingdom and contain one of four National Magnolia Collections under the auspices of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens. The plants and trees in the gardens create a wonderful spectacle in Spring. Many of the species originate from plant hunting expeditions around the world during the 19th century.