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An old and beautiful legend states that at the time of the Crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree. Because of its firmness and strength, it was selected as the timber for the cross. Sensing this, the Crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: 'Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings 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 nailprints—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.' The dogwood is probably the most popular flowering ornamental tree in the United States, most common in the South where it grows wild in great abundance. |
