Magnolia

There are Magnolia trees in flower all over the place at the moment.  Large-flowered and very showy, these popular garden plants give good value for a couple of weeks in the Spring.

Magnolias are part of an ancient genus.  Among the earliest plants to have developed flowers, they began producing them long before there were such things as bees to pollinate them.  They are thought to have developed to be pollinated by beetles and the later appearance of bees was a bonus.
These pink-tinged flowers belong to the hybrid Magnolia soulangeana, one of the most common in our gardens.

Once open, the flowers don't last very long, but for now, lets just appreciate them while they last.