Can you smell this?

It's absolutely gorgeous and possibly the best fragrance in the garden at the moment. It's a cross between the scent of vanilla and lemon but so amazingly pure. This is Magnolia Grandiflora Maryland and not to be confused with the spring flowering varieties. This will now bloom for weeks getting all the attention which seems to be its natural characteristic, for in June it sulks! The nursery we bought this from did warn us and, true to form, the leaves look as if they are dying and it is in a sorry state. By second week of July these gorgeous flowers appear and all is well. Don't you just love these Prima Donnas?!