As legend has it:
The cross on which Jesus was crucified was constructed of dogwood.
This greatly distressed the “Dogwood Tree”, so God then decreed from that day forth, that the dogwood would never grow large enough to be used to make a cross. Henceforth, it shall be small, slender, bent and twisted.
It’s blossoms shall be in the form of a cross each bearing a rusty indentation as of a nail. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns, so that all who see it will “remember.”
Flowering dogwood branch (Cornus florida)
Illustration • Lisa Rivas © 2008
Dogwood is so named from the “dags” (skewers) being made of it. It’s wood is exceedingly hard and serviceable for many utilitarian purposes.
