Question
I live in Lake Cowichan Vancouver Island British Columbia Canada - Zone 8. First spring in this new home and magnolia has bloomed in early March  - no leaves.  Now in July we have a flowering bud when the tree is in full leaf and also a lot of weird pod looking things and possibly more flower buds.  Have you ever heard of this before? Is this normal that it should have blooms twice in one year? Thanks for your help.  

Answer
Shirley,

Typically the book deciduous magnolias bloom before the foliage in the spring and then leaf out.  But plant generally read the book about as often as my students do :)

It is not uncommon for a spring flowering trees to have flowers in the summer.  It is not normal,but nor uncommon.

As far as the pod things, I do not know.  If I knew the species of magnolia you are asking about I may be able to do some more precise specualtion.  If you can send an image to [email protected] I will look at it.

Good luck in the garden

Gary