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We never quite know what we’ll come back with from the park.
It’s a treasure trove all year round.
But particularly in spring.
One day last year, after the wind had been up, we found magnolia buds galore.
All blown off the trees in the walled garden.
They were a bit bruised and battered.
But when we poked around at them were fascinated by what we found inside.
And brought a bundle back to examine further.
And somehow got the idea of painting petal pictures.
Like all our nature crafts, it was the simplest thing.
We just painted trees with our watercolours.
Then pulled the flowers apart …
Cut up the petals …
And stuck them on …
In between having a peer under the microscope at the petals and the …
… fabulous magnolia core which has multiple stigma to receive pollen.
Curiously the stigmata allow multiple ovules or eggs to be fertilised which will grow together into an aggregate fruit. AKA as a blobby fruit 
(Blackberries and raspberries are aggregates too).
All in all we were pretty chuffed with our petal paintings.
It was a lovely way to while away some quiet time in the garden.
Gently painting and cutting and sticking petals.
With just a bit of scientific investigation thrown in for good measure.
The paintings don’t last long as the petals brown.
But that’s a good excuse for doing some more petal paintings.
And having a poke around at some different blossom.
I do hope you enjoyed this.
For more simple ways to enjoy nature with kids, do check out my other nature notes.
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