Loveliest of trees, the [dogwood] nowIs hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my [two] score years and ten [and six more],
Twenty will not come again,
And take from [fifty] springs a score,
It only leaves me [twenty or thirty] more.
And since to look at things in bloom
[Twenty or thirty] springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the [dogwood] hung with snow.
A.E. Housman, with HG edit.
*tee hee*
the above photos were taken from my deck on April 9, 2011, 7:53 pm
and these photos were taken at 6:48 am. April 13, 2011
Loveliest of trees, the [dogwood] now
and these photos were taken at 6:48 am. April 13, 2011
pretty place
ReplyDeleteBeautiful....I got to see a pink dogwood last year in Yosemite. At first I thought it was a cherry tree, but nooooo. I actually found the same tree on Google right by where we were standing! Love dogwoods :-)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty pictures -- we have a pink dogwood in our neighborhood that I covet for my own yard.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like your edits to the poem even more. Clever girl.
From Gary Jackson ---
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.
When I was little I was told the legend of the dogwood. I don't know if you or your bloggers have ever heard of it. But supposedly . . .
The dogwood used to thrive 2,00 years ago. It grew wild and was plentiful in a much greener and less arid Holy Land. The trees were large enough and wood scarce enough, that Romans often used them as wood for the crosses used in crucifixions.
On Good Friday, Jesus Christ of Nazareth was nailed to such a cross and died an agonizing death. If you read scripture (Acts 5, 10 and 13), the "tree" is used to describe the cross.
After Christ crucifixion, legend has it that God cursed the dogwood tree. This caused it to shrivel and become bent, never more to be used as such a tool for executions. It's bright white petals were forever stained red at their tips. If you look closely at the petals of a dogwood tree today you can easily see the resemblance on the four separate parts of the petal, to the place where Christ' feet, hands and head would have lain. It brings the petals to life at Easter to remind us of that day, and the suffering of Jesus for our sins.
I love dogwoods! Our first house in Atlanta in Collier Hills had one of the most beautiful dogwoods and when it bloomed I would just sit on our front stoop and look at it. It bloomed with the azaleas and I it's what gave me my love for gardening.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! I'm so impressed at how lovely they are considering how early in the am that is. My eyes are barely open let alone able to take such gorgeous pictures. :)
I love that your friend Gary reminded me of the Legend of the Dogwood. He made me think of my father who would tell us the story every year with as much excitement as if he had never told us before. Thanks Gary.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty sight ... I've always liked that legend.
ReplyDeleteWow, these are great pics.
ReplyDeleteDogwoods and Weeping Willows are my absolute favorites. And I had never actually seen a Dogwood tree before moving to NC and we now have three white ones in our front yard. Our neighbors have lined their driveway with them, alternating between the pink and white and their yard looks gorgeous. I'd love to do the same when we start working on the front yard. One of the most peaceful moments I've ever experienced took place a couple weeks ago while sitting in my rocking chair on the front porch. I looked up from the book I was reading to watch the wind blow through our trees, scattering dogwood flower petals all over the ground. The contrast of the pure white against the vibrant green coming in all over was simply breathtaking.
ReplyDelete