the progression of a tree

We have a Magnolia tree in the front courtyard. Our neighbor says he thinks it might be one of the only of its kind in Scottsdale (general area). I can't claim that to be true. What I can claim to be true is that they are an interesting tree.

Last year, as it progressed through the months of April and May, we thought we had killed it. Having not lived here through a spring and not being familiar with any of the foliage around here, as this tree started its spring showdown, we just didn't know what had happened. Too much water from all the rain? Not enough watering from us as it was warming up? Were we suppose to fertilize it? Not fertilize it? So, after asking a few people at the garden stores, reading on line and getting a visit from the former home owner...we found out it wasn't dying but rather doing what many trees usually do in the fall, just in the spring instead...

...drop most of its of leaves. Messy, messy, messy tree.

The leaves start to turn yellow, then brown, then they fall off.
Until it is pretty bare.
But then these big velvety buds appear.
And the velvet starts to peel away.
Until there is the smoothest white bud.
And then it begins to open.
And then there is a beautiful, gigantic, wonderful smelling magnolia blossom.
They are really gorgeous and you just want to bury your nose in them and breathe in all the lusciousness.
You just have to watch for the bees. Because they love all the lusciousness too.
And then, just as quickly as they opened, they start to turn brown. The petals almost turn to leather and fall off one by one.
Until all that is left is this. Those stay on until they are very hard and dry an eventually fall to the ground too. They almost look like a pine cone after they are really dry.
As one flower buds, another is opening, while another is dropping it's petals.
And then, while all this is happening, new leaves are starting to bud out, filling in where all those others had vacated the tree.
The leaves are fresh and green and the blossoms are pure white and beautiful.
And then the tree looks like this. Big and healthy once again, with big white blossoms sprinkled here and there.
It is a pretty tree. Messy but worth it. You just can't rake all the leaves into a pile and jump into it like we are used to.

The pay off is in beauty rather than fun.