Magnolia lovers are the kind of people whose glasses are always half full.

Even though frost may turn the pink and white blossoms to brown mush every few years, people that love magnolias continue to plant them and adore them.  Their displays are so over-the-top that it is easy to forget about the dud years.

Here–in order of bloom–are eight of the first beauties to bloom:

In most of the country, kobus magnolia (Magnolia kobus) is the first mag to bloom. The white flowers often feature a brushstroke of pink on the back sides. Unfortunately, the plant is usually devoid of blooms until its 20th or even 30th birthday. This one takes its time in getting the show on the road.

Some of these very early magnolias can be hard to tell apart, but Dirr says the green stems on kobus are splotched with brown markings like those on a Holstein cow.