A Fragrant Copiah County Beauty

This Night Blooming Magnolia was photographed by Luther Hamilton Sr. in 1939.  This impressive flower was pulled from a tree in his yard.  Hamilton, who hailed from Wesson, and his son, Luther Hamilton Jr., were photographers in Crystal Springs for many years.  Their photographs depicting life in Copiah County are on file at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. This particular photo is labeled "Night-Blooming Cereus," but on checking, that may be a misnomer, because that is the common name for a much different cactus flower.