#stayhome #socialdistancing

We planned to visit Davey Dogwood Park again this spring; but won’t be able to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  I decided to share these photos from several years ago again.  We can experience the beauty of the dogwoods through photos until it’s possible to travel again.

Road Trip

We took a quick road trip a couple of years ago to see the Dogwood blooms at Davy Dogwood Park in Palestine, Texas.  We were pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the blooms.  Many of the Dogwood Trees were mixed among the other trees making the white even more vivid.

Driving through the park was enjoyable and even peaceful on an overcast Thursday afternoon.  I’m sure many more people filled the park during the weekend.

In many areas the Dogwood Tree branches hung above the roads making a covering of blooms to drive under.

Some of the trees were hidden among the other trees which made for a nice display of white blooms against the green.

You can read more about Dogwood Trees in my post Bloom.

Legend of the Dogwood Tree
~ Unknown

In Jesus time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.

‘Twas strong & firm its branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:

“Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so

Slender & twisted, it shall be

With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom’s center wears a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected this tree shall be

A reminder to all of my agony.”

As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was crucified was made from a dogwood tree. God decreed that the dogwood tree would from that day forth never grow large enough to be used to make a cross. Thus, the dogwood tree is a small, under story tree. The flower of the dogwood has four petals which makes the shape of a cross. The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns with bright red, clustered fruit in the center representing the blood of Christ. The dogwood blooms in April when Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Christ after the Crucifixion.