Big and Bold

Big and Bold
            Small, delicate blossoms such as of baby’s breath or forget-me-nots are lovely. Charming and understated, they may appear as background support in a bouquet.
            And then there are magnolias. It is hard to ignore the big, bold petals of a magnolia in full bloom, whether in dark pink, pale pink, purple, white, or a blend of these.
            You’d think my family and I would get tired of trudging off to the San Francisco Botanical Garden year after year when we see a notice that the magnolias are blooming, but we answer the siren call annually in late winter.
            The Botanical Garden provides a magnolia map so visitors can find the numerous examples of the dozens of species of magnolias they are home to, but we’ve been so many times that we really don’t need the map.
            Some years we wait too long and show up when many petals have fallen, though it is still visually dramatic to see the ground covered in huge colorful petals.
            This year, however, we hit the magnolias early in prime blooming season, so readers who live within visiting distance have plenty of time to see these stunning trees in full bloom.
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives is the Magnolia Stroll – San Francisco Botanical Garden, home to more than 200 magnolias (representing 63 species), including rare and historic varieties, along with a vast collection of other fascinating plants from around the world.
            Do you have favorite flowers that you watch for year after year? Enjoy them while they’re in season! Keep putting one foot forward!
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This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 46: Magnolia Stroll – San Francisco Botanical Garden