The Magnificent Magnolia

I love shooting photos of magnolia blooms during this time of year. I keep on the lookout for the perfect bloom. It's a joy to stumble upon one that is positoned just right. Such is the case of the blooms in the second photo. I love this combination of the two blooms, of one having burst forth already and the other biding its time, I guess, so it does not have to share the spotlight with its sibling above it.

My favorite magnolia tree is one that the blooms are not the main focal point for me. The fourth photo, with the graves nestled in its roots, is located next to the gazebo in the Vicksburg National Cemetery. It's a majestic old tree that has been sheltering many graves of brave, young men who died in battle many years ago like a mother goose snuggling her goslings close underneath her wings. I stop at this point on the road that meanders through the cemetery and take a look back, for it is one of the most stirring sights in the cemetery. Most people don't see it because you have to look back while riding along the road and most people just see what's in front of them. Hmm, there's a lesson here I will need to mull over for a while to understand it's true meaning.

Some real pretty magnolia blooms can now be seen on the roads surrounding River Region Medical Center. And don't forget the mighty magnolia trees that grace the lawn of the Old Court House Museum. Even if you don't have a camera, venture by there soon and take a mental picture of those gorgeous blooms and setting for use in bringing a smile to your face for many years to come!