Well this is the darndest thing!

Came home this evening and looked up at the clouds as I was coming up the walk, and I saw this.
The tulip magnolia has blooms??? How very weird. It bloomed really nicely in the spring and has been developing the little fuzzy buds for next year. As you can see, some of the leaves are already yellowing and dropping. But there they are! About a dozen blooms.

Whattaya think? Maybe some buds that were brought to a halt by the drought in late spring and have now come to life with more rain?
Deb
(Lousy photo, but the sky was just white and the blooms are at the top of the tree.)

I think you are right about the drought. It probably went into dormancy and has just come out again. I suspect it will still bloom well next spring.

Our gardenia bushes have flowered again too, even though they exhausted themselves with heavy spring blooming, AND we trimmed them after they finished. Isn't it nice having a second show!!!

Deb, mine always throw a few buds in the fall-the first year, I thought it was weird-deviant buds! lol but now I just expect it. Not sure if it really has anything to do with the weather,as every summer here is different.

Tigerlily: There ya go. First time I've noticed it. It was kind of a nice surprise. :) Especially with leaves starting to fall.
Deb

there is a saucer magnolia cultivar called susan that regularly puts on a second show.