Sunday, May 1, 2011

The Flowering Dogwoods Are Blooming


The Flowering Dogwoods Cornus florida  are now starting to bloom all over the hills here and the hillsides are boasting beautiful trees filled with white blooms. The Flowering Dogwood is native to the eastern half of the Unites States and is one of the most popular ornamental trees.

OMC_Dogwood

Found in zones from 5 to 9 it is not only beautiful in the spring while in bloom but has beautiful berries and leaves in the Fall. It will also grow in full sun to full shade.

OMC_DogwoodBerries

The flowers bear green berries which grow throughout the summer, turning  a bright red in the fall. The birds and squirrels make a fest of the berries along with other small mammals.

OMC_Dogwood2

Historically the hard, closed grain of the wood of the  Flowering Dogwoods were used to make shuttles for weaving.

OMC_Dogwood3 Here they grow in the worst of soil conditions adapting to the poor, hard clay and rocky soil. And we do have our rocks here from gravel to giant boulders and cliffs.

OMC_Dogwood4

We also have the Silky and Pagoda Dogwood  which is more shrub like.

OMC_TigerSwallowtail

The blooms on it are  clustered and flat which produce dark blue-black berries in the Fall.

Fall_BBerries

Although the berries are beneficial to the wildlife and are beautiful in the Fall, I love seeing them in bloom all over the hills  in the spring.

OMC_Dogwood

 Happy Gardening,
Lona

 

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19 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What lovely flowers the dogwoods are. I love the Swallowtail on the blooms too.

Wonderful springtime pictures.

Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

Liz said...

Hi Lona,

Beautiful photos, I don't think I've ever really seen Dogwoods flowering here and it's a massive shame as their flowers are stunning!

HolleyGarden said...

Hmmm... it grows in your rocky soil? I always thought that was why mine didn't make it! Must be something else I'm doing. Lovely photos.

Pat said...

Always loved Dogwood trees.
Your's are picture perfect.
Great shots !!

Bonnie said...

These are so gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Dogwoods are so gorgeous in the spring. One of my favorites.

Randy Emmitt said...

Lona,

Our dogwoods are past already, loved to photos. Did you know the flowers of Flowering Dogwood are the host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly.

sweetbay said...

Dogwoods are such a lovely four season tree, and the NC state tree. Beautiful shimmery photos.

Lynn said...

Didn't realize they grew in heavy clay and rocky soil. Perhaps I should have planted one of these beauties instead of the Bradford Pear.

BernieH said...

Such beautiful trees whether covered in blooms or berries. Your photos really do show off its beauty in lovely detail.

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

white isn't much of a colour, but for flowers white can be very beautiful....

RURAL said...

Such beauty in those flowers. The Dogwood is the official flower of BC, and I love it.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Becca's Dirt said...

Beautiful dogwood blooms.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Your garden is definitely ahead of mine right now. I just saw all your flowers on your last post. Funny I just realized my Dogwood is just starting to bloom today! I don't always get berries on mine, although I did last year and the birds loved them.

Karen said...

I love flowering dogwoods! Ours are blooming here, too. You have a lovely blog!

Stephanie said...

What a wonderful plant! Love the sight of the flowers and later the berries also. I am intrigued!

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Dogwoods are amazing! Lona, thank you! I don't have any, unfortunately.

pogonip said...

You are so much farther along into spring than we are--our dogwoods haven't even broken dormancy yet. I love seeing my gardening friends' lovelies cuz it makes it easier for me to wait!

I hope your campanula does okay in your current sogginess. My tall one drowned last year. Actually I have to tell the truth, I drowned it. Accidentally, of course. Lesson learned!

Dirt Princess said...

Oh how I love dogwoods. I especially love the pink ones. They are always in full bloom when I'm turkey hunting. Which the old timers say that when the dogwoods are in full bloom the turkeys are gobblin' good....and I believe that! LOL!