From “Dogwood Characteristics” in Dogwood: The Genus Cornus by Paul Cappiello and Don Shadow:
“Of course, the flowers are what make the dogwood. Just the mere mention of the name dogwood conjures up images of sprightly spring days of crystal blue skies, fresh morning breezes, and the clear proud glow of a flowering dogwood in bloom.
“While this does a bit of injustice to the entire clan (by far, most dogwoods don’t have flowers that most casual observers would call dogwood flowers), for many this is the image of spring. In the eastern and central United States, the Pacific Northwest, throughout much of temperate Asia and parts of Europe, there is probably no better recognized, loved, or planted small flowering tree than Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood. There are dogwood festivals, subdivisions, shopping centers, and more. In Kentucky, we even celebrate annually dogwood winter, that late spring cold snap at dogwood bloom time that reminds us all that the tomato plants we just set out can still experience a rude reminder of Mother Nature’s occasional mean-spirited jokes. No, there are few who would argue the flowering dogwood’s position as top dog among the spring-flowering trees.
“Yet, as many learn in grade school, or at least in an introductory plant materials class, the flowers of Cornus florida aren’t white at all. Of course, the true flowers are yellow to yellow-green and not more than 0.25 inch (6 mm) across. The show is apparent in what are called involucral bracts that subtend the boss of 20 to 30 true flowers. These are the outer protective structures evident in the winter bud that sits at the end of most dormant branches. Still, a sure way to win a quick beer at a spring neighborhood barbeque is to bet the host on the color of his or her dogwood’s flowers. It’s a winner every time.”
From “Waking in Connecticut” in Fierce Day: New Poems by Rose Styron:
Amazing morning —
every tree and bush
bursting greenly —
weeping cherry
in the Japanese garden,
lilac fountains skyward
now over the pond, now low
at lawn’s rim,
white dogwood stretching
beyond the old stone walls….
Hello!
This is the second of two posts with photos of the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, from Oakland Cemetery. The first post — where I describe my approach to taking and processing these photos, and explain some of the dogwood’s unique design features — is Dogwood Study (1 of 2).
Thanks for taking a look!
So pretty