Old Friend

I've known and loved this tree for 20 years now. Sometimes it has been a couple of years between meeting up, but when we do it is always at this time of year - and it never, ever lets me down.

It has the most beautiful blossom ever, and its shape is just perfect - you can stand underneath and be surrounded by branches weighed down by flowers.

The sky behind it today just made it even more spectacular. Still got it tree, still got it... ;-)

It is near the East Gate at the Botanics, so easily found. However, there was a rival today for this blip - as the incredible pink magnolia in the secret garden was in full flower and was absolutely breathtaking - check it out captured here on my Flickr site.