Something special is underway at the Sonoma Botanical Garden: the start of the annual bloom of rare magnolias.

Publicist Nina Sazevich expects that the bloom will be at its peak now through Feb. 23, weather permitting.

“We have organized special magnolia tours over President’s Day weekend to help the public make the most of it,” she said.

The garden is home to more than 40 unique species of Asian magnolias, many of which are endangered in their native habitat. In the coming weeks, more than a dozen of these stunning trees and shrubs will be at their best, with saucer-shaped pink and white flowers emerging on bare branches.

“What a joy that Sonoma Botanical Garden’s magnolia collection is bursting into bloom just as we celebrate love,” said Jeannie Perales, Sonoma Botanical Garden’s executive director. “These fleeting flowers remind us to savor beauty in every moment. There’s no better time to pack a picnic for two and experience this joyful celebration of nature’s splendor.”

If you go, look for these magnolias in particular:

• Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) with their thin white to pink petals in a star-like form. There are 15 planted throughout the garden.

They started as wild seeds collected in central Japan and are being monitored by a team of dedicated garden volunteers as part of the National Phenology Network, a research initiative aimed at understanding the timing of seasonal events and the effect of climate change on nature’s calendar.

• Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) is a medium-sized tree with fragrant white flowers. While there are several specimens, the largest specimen in the garden is now 30 years old and was grown from seed that originated in the Zhejiang province on the eastern coast of China.

• Kobus magnolia (Magnolia kobus), with skyward-facing white flowers, is native to Japan and South Korea, and the specimens at the garden are representatives of wild genetics from multiple locations across Japan.Several magnolias at the garden will flower well into spring, including the Japanese bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata). After the enormous leaves have developed, often longer than 2 feet, the equally massive white-petaled flowers generally open in April.

Details: The Sonoma Botanical Garden is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 12841 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors older than 65 years old; $8 for youth 5 to 17 years old, teachers and active military; and free for children 4 years old and younger. Other discounts available.

A guided stroll will take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The ticket price is $15 and includes admission to the garden.

For more information, call 707-996-3166 or go to sonomabg.org.

Don’t-miss event

Learn how to grow flowers from seed in Floret Flower Farm’s free three-part “Cut Flower Garden” video course with tips, tricks, a supply list and photo-filled easy-to-follow instructions. Registration required at floretflowers.com.

Show off

If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I’d love to know about it.

Please send an email describing either one (or both), what you love most about it and a photograph or two. I will post the best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published, and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.

PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.