When I moved to Florida twenty years ago, one of the things I loved in addition to the great climate was the various trees and flowers that I didn't grow up with in the Boston area.  I fell in love with jasmine, honeysuckle and.......magnolia trees.

In the neighborhood I lived in New Port Richey, there was a house with a huge magnolia tree on their front lawn.  In the morning, when I was walking Holly, I could smell the scent of the flowers blooming on the tree long before I came abreast of it.  It was intoxicating.  I'd stand there for a few minutes just inhaling that wonderful fragrance.

So you can imagine my delight when we bought this house two years ago to discover a huge, magnolia tree in my back yard.  As you can see from the photo above, it's a pretty good size.  But....as spring approached that first year, I was very disappointed to find that spring had come and gone.....and not one flower bloomed on that tree.  Nor were there any last year.  However, a few weeks ago, I glanced over at it to discover this...........

Yes.....magnolia flowers!  Five or six of them.  So far I haven't detected that wonderful, intoxicating, fragrance......but I have some flowers.

So.....for all of you gardeners out there, I need your help.  Why do you think I had no flowers for two seasons?  Do magnolias only bloom every couple of years?  Do I need to water it more?  Less?  Fertilize it?  What am I doing wrong?  I'd love to know that not just every now and then, but every May, my magnolia tree will give forth these gorgeous flowers.

In the meantime, I'm sure enjoying it.  Now, if only my southern lilac bush would grow a little bit faster.......

Today is May 9 and my dad would have turned 88 today.  He passed away 4 years ago last month.  His spirit continues to hover very close to me.........so Happy Birthday, Dad.

See you tomorrow.......