The flowers of this 20-year-old Magnolia steal the show every year. All winter you see the buds, like a promise that spring really will come back one day, and sometime in March they start to open gently.
What I like about this photo is that you can also see very well how the leaves slowly unfold from their cuddly cocoons.
I kept the front flower with branch and petals very sharp; you can even see some raindrops on a petal and the magnolia's in the background in the blur. This gives a slightly more exciting effect.
The magnolia in this photo is in our front garden. When we moved here over 20 years ago, the first thing we did was plant a garden. I knew I wanted at least a Magnolia in the front garden, so it was planned pretty soon. A very small shrub it was, now grown into a giant, which I carefully prune every now and then.
It is year-round enjoyment with this tree in the garden. In summer it offers shade, in autumn beautiful colours, in winter beautiful branches with buds, but of course it is most beautiful in spring, when the buds open and reveal dozens of flowers.
This magnolia has a second flowering in summer, but it is never as spectacular, also because the tree is then in full leaf.
Magnolia is a symbol of beauty and long life.
As the daughter of a photographer, photography has been a big part of my life. I love nature and especially flowers, so you see this most in my work. I have worked as an independent make-up artist for over 15 years, developing my eye for detail. Composition.. Read more…