All my life I have loved the Dogwood Tree.  As a child growing up in Southern Illinois, we would see them amongst the Redbud, Oak, Maple, and other trees along Interstate 64 and marvel at their beauty.  My parents told my sisters and I the legend of the tree when we were young.  Since that time, the trees have had even more meaning to me.  My husband and I have had them at both of our homes and enjoy the blooms every spring.  Below is the legend as well as some links that you can visit to learn more details about it.  Over the next few days, I’ll post images of the Dogwood tree in our front yard.  You’ll understand why it gives us such pleasure when you see the pretty flowers it bares each spring.

The Beautiful Legend of the Dogwood Tree

Legend has it that at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the wood for the cross. To be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed and saddened the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Christ, in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all, said to the tree – “Because of your sorrow and pity for My suffering, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth 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.”

http://www.promiseofgod.com/dogwood/

http://www.angelfire.com/ga/sweetgeorgiapeach/dogwood.html