Glorious Magnolias

I was first captivated by a magnolia tree at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Virginia, USA.  It was there that I came face to face with the largest magnolia bloom that I have ever seen and was awe struck by the size and purity of the bloom.  It was only this spring at Plas Cadnant that this encounter was matched by the blooms on the 'atlas' magnolia in the valley garden.

As an ancient genus the Magnolia is noted as existing before bees, instead being pollinated by beetles.  As a plant it blooms before the leaves appear on the tree and,  

as such, the flowers bloom on bare branches with no leaves to camouflage them.  In full view the flowers are magnificent.

In the gardens there are different varieties of magnolia.  The 'atlas' stands in the valley overlooking the river showing of large blooms; the 'soulangeana' welcomes you from the entrance gates as it is seen at the bottom of the walled garden and the pale pink 'stellata' through the tunnel by the green man fountain.  These are not the only magnolias in the garden by they are the three that caught my eye this month.  I am reassured that there is one magnolia in the garden that had yet to bloom so will look forward to this in future.
In the meantime, I have been observing the tulips and awaiting the peonies.