My very old Dogwoods are blooming in my backyard. I had them in my yard growing up in the South as a child and I just love them. If you are one of my previous clients, you know that I even named one of my collections to purchase after the Dogwood! I wanted to share the Legend of the Dogwood if you have not heard of it. Easter is the perfect time for it!
It is said that medieval men of Europe were passionate about Jesus Christ. Everything surrounding them spoke of His terrible suffering and wonderful work of redemption. The Dogwood was no exception and reminded them of a great work of art created by God. Each delicate white (or pink) blossom of the Dogwood has the form of a cross: two long and two short petals. Look closely at a Dogwood flower and you will see on the center of the outer edge of each petal there are small holes reminding us of nail marks. The tips of the petals are rusty colored on one side and brown-red on the other. You can imagine that they represent the spikes that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus on the Cross. In the center of the flower there is a green or yellow cluster that reminds us of the crown of thorns. And this is how the Legend of the Dogwood was born.
This is a common version: “At the time of Our Lord’s Crucifixion, the dogwood used to have the size of the oak and other forest trees. Because the wood was so firm and strong and there were few trees in the Middle East that were very large, it was chosen to be the wood for the crosses used in crucifixions of criminals. Thus, the wood of the cross that would bear Our Lord and Savior was made from the dogwood tree. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose, however, greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Christ said to it: “Because of your compassion and pity for My suffering, never again shall the Dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth, you shall be slender and bent and twisted and your blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. On the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, and the center of the flower will resemble the cruel crown of thorns placed on My head, with bright red clusters once again recalling the blood I shed. Thus, all who see this will remember Me.”
You can think of these things the next time you see a Dogwood tree which is very often in Georgia!
More Favorites: My three and the purple Dutch Iris
I have loved seeing so many families on Facebook in their Easter-wear. It is like the first day of school again. 🙂 Did you get the most perfect picture ever of your family? No, me either. I did get my three kids in what they decided was the most perfect pose for them. I went with it. I’m glad I had my iPhone to sneak in fun pictures of our day.
Lisa Phillipson iPhone April 2014
