Magnolia Bloom After Rain in Castile

Thick, waxy petals of a white magnolia bloom open wide in the deep shadow of a midsummer morning. Raindrops rest on the smooth, creamy surfaces, catching the faint rim light of the rising sun that cuts through the heavy cloud cover. The flower rests on a dark, wet branch against a backdrop of blurred green foliage typical of the Castilian landscape. Water beads roll slowly across the curved edges, showing the texture of the petals. One drop hangs precariously from the lower left petal, about to fall onto the rough bark below.