A magnolia tree glowing in the sunny spring light by Silva Wischeropp

I came across this spring-like floral scene in the Blankenfelde-Pankow Botanical Park on 20 April 2018 in the late afternoon and photographed it with a NIKON D90 (lens: NIKKOR 80–200 mm f/2.8).

The special appeal of magnolias lies in their spectacular, mostly leafless spring blossoms, their beguiling scent and their fascinating prehistory as one of the oldest flowering plants in the world.
These imposing trees symbolise grace, endurance and pure joie de vivre.
Here are the fascinating facets of the magnolia at a glance:
The Spring Awakening Majestic blooms before the foliage: Most magnolias unfurl their huge, tulip- or star-shaped flowers in early spring, even before the first leaves emerge. This makes them appear particularly pure and dominant.

Colour variety:
The spectrum ranges from classic white and delicate porcelain pink through to deep purple and rare yellow varieties such as 'Yellow Bird'.

Evolution and biodiversity
Living fossil: Magnolia plants evolved around 95 million years ago and were originally pollinated by beetles, as bees did not yet exist at that time.

Summer & winter appeal: In addition to the classic deciduous species, there are also evergreen varieties (e.g. Magnolia grandiflora), which bear large, citrus-scented flowers in summer.

In winter, the thick, cone-like buds are a fascinating sight.
Effects and symbolism
In the language of flowers: In European tradition, the magnolia symbolises loyalty, appreciation and purity.

Aromatherapy:
The delicate, floral scent of magnolia essential oil is prized for its calming and harmonising effects; it relieves stress, dispels gloomy thoughts and awakens a zest for life.