Easter Dogwood

Flowering dogwood. Cornus florida, 'Cherokee Brave var.'
(Click picture for larger view)

The Legend of the Dogwood
At the time of Christ's crucifixion, the dogwood tree was as tall as the oak and other forest trees. Its wood was so strong and firm that it was chosen for the cross. The tree was very distressed to be used for such a purpose and Jesus understood. He told the tree, "Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, I promise this: never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints. And in the center of the flower, brown with rust and stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns – so that all who see it will remember it was upon a dogwood tree that I was crucified, and this tree shall not be mutilated nor destroyed, but cherished and protected as a reminder of my agony and death upon the cross."
~ Author Unknown

Easter in Mississippi (and Virginia for that matter) means tulip trees, azalea blooms in rose, red and white, wisteria, forsythia and of course the dogwood. The tree grows wild and some homes are graced with five or six having pink or white blossoms. These are glorious in full bloom! This picture is of a small pink dogwood in our neighbor's yard, although it is the darkest pink I have ever seen. In fact the petals are almost red; it really speaks to me of the Easter season.

Submission for SeeItSunday topic "Easter". (end of post)