Dogwood

Would you believe that my dogwood is blooming in March?  And I'm out of town, of course, so I'm missing it.  It shouldn't bloom until the first two weeks of May (four to six weeks from now!) but the petals were forming when I left for the airport and I know that by now it is in it's full glory, wafting in the breeze.

Since Mother Nature is rushing things, I am posting a dramatic photo from my dogwood tree last year.  We can all take a moment and pretend that we've seen it in person and that we haven't missed a thing, can't we?

Kousa Dogwood

Isn't this a fantastic specimen?  These are the Fall berries on a Kousa Dogwood that I photographed on campus at Denison University in Ohio.  They must have a fabulous horticulture department! 

There are unusual trees planted throughout the campus - this is my favorite. It looks like calico fabric - it is as if this tree has sprung from Mary Engelbreit's imagination!

Something Dog

For years I have reminded (and then quizzed) the Garden Club Girls on the names of the flowering trees in our neighborhood. It is my favorite time of year on our street and it only lasts about three weeks. I think it's adorable that they always get stumped on the magnificent tree in front of my house.

"Umm...umm...something dog!"

No matter how long or short the Winter, the name "Dogwood" just doesn't stick with them. So here it is, my "Something Dog" tree in full bloom. I originally planted two Dogwood trees by the front walk in the hopes of have twin Dogwoods growing and draping majestically. The first year they were short, pruned in an oval-shape and it looked like I had stuck two Q-tips (cotton swabs) in the lawn! Then one of the trees died and I was worried that nothing would be able to thrive in this space. But the other tree made it and has been growing beautifully all on her own ever since.

Do you ever call trees by a different name?

Pink Dogwood

This beautiful pink Dogwood is blooming in my neighborhood. My tree is pure white and has finally started to relax and drape like it should. For years it looked like a Q-tip stuck in my lawn.

With blossoms like paper, Dogwood is a lovely tree to recreate in paper. One year I made Dogwood blossoms out of tissue paper and they turned out really sweet. 

I noticed that Martha Stewart Crafts sells a paper flower kit so that you can make your own little bouquet that will last forever.