The legend of the Dogwood tree.

Have you ever been driving through the country and noticed a Dogwood in the spring time? If you have, then you know why I am writing this as they are so beautiful this time of the year. What you may not have heard of is the legend of the Dogwood. In this article I am going to share this legend with you and also share some pictures of this beautiful tree. After reading this I hope that you fall in love with them as I have.

The history behind the Dogwood is that the name Dogwood came from Dagwood because the stems of the tree are very hard and was used to make daggers and arrows. You can find the Dogwood almost anywhere in the United States other than places that are too hot and too dry. It is to be said, that the pioneers used the Dogwoods limbs as a tooth brush. The pioneers would remove the bark and fray the end of the stick using it to brush teeth. The berries that form in early spring are mild toxic to humans.

The legend of the Dogwood was shared to the hubby and I one spring as the flowers were blooming. I was so amazed of the flowers from the Dogwood. From that day on, I look forward to spring time when they show their beauty. I enjoy driving around in the afternoons taking pictures of them. I have noticed that they tend to grow in pods and in ridges, here in south Mississippi.

Legend has it, that the Dogwood was known in the Roman days as a very strong wood. The Dogwood was much like an oak tree and stood tall and strong. This wood was used to carry out executions on, due to its strength. The Dogwood was used to build Jesus’s cross and this distressed the Dogwood. Jesus sensed this distress, in the tree and the crucified Jesus said to the tree, "Because of your sorrow and pity for my sufferings, never again will the Dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. From here on out, it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.”

It is ironic how the tree blooms in early spring and before Easter the flowers die and then it is just a crooked tree in the woods that does not stand out, but is always there.

Legend of the Dogwood

~ Unknown

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

'Twas strong & firm it's 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."

Happy Spring yall!

Backwoods belle