Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Dogwood Trees/ Poinsettias















Do you know the legend of the Dogwood tree?  On our hike up Panola Mountain on Saturday, the dogwood trees were in full bloom and were gorgeous. Some of the people on this hike did not know this tree and they did not know its connection to Easter.  

At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus' cross.
     To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said. "Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals.      "In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."


When I saw that date for Easter this year, I thought that the Dogwood trees would be long past blooming, but that was not so: the trees have been blooming for weeks now but they were at their peak on Easter Sunday.  Perfect.



The crown like center in the middle are really the flowers, the petals are the bracts.  This should remind you of the plant associated with Christmas, the poinsettia. It is the same, the middle part would be the tiny flowers and the red part that most would think of as the flower are really the bracts.   Joel R. Poinsett brought this plant back from Mexico.  You should click on that link and read about him, I knew that the poinsettia was named after him, but I had no idea what a fascinating man he truly was...if I were a movie maker, I would make a movie about him! 
Recently, Meike from her blog in Germany showed us some beautiful flowers from the gardens at Ludwigsburg Palace and they were called Euphorbia.  The poinsettia must be related to those same flowers as the poinsettia is Euphorbia pulcherrima!

Today is the anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare. (That is how my church would say it, so much better than saying "birthday", don't you think?)  Tomorrow, is my Dad's 87th birthday!  My Dad played a nice game on Sunday of tossing a few beanbags (strict rules...27 feet from the target!), the game is called Cornhole!  I got that darn beanbag into the hole ONCE and ONCE only!  AHHH!! How in the world did I ever do it? God only knows!




 See the wood box beside my Dad in the photo above?  There is another one just like it EXACTLY 27 feet away and that is what he is aiming for! 



"My glass shall not persuade me I am old".  
 Happy Birthday, Daddy!

48 comments:

  1. I've never heard the legend of the dogwood tree before. Probably because they don't grow here on the prairies. Too cold.

    Happy birthday to your Dad! Wishing him good health and much happiness.

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    1. I love the dogwood trees. I was surprised that some on this walk could not identify them as they are so common here and so easy to spot with their beautiful white blossoms! (There are even some pink dogwoods!)
      Thanks for the well wishes for my Dad!

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  2. Happy Birthday to your dear Dad! You know how much I love reading about him, he is one of the most cheerful and kind-hearted people I "know" (through your blog only, of course).
    Thank you for mentioning my blog. I would never have thought the flower I showed on that post to be related to the Poinsettia, but such is the science of botanics. For instance, before I was told that the tomato is, botanically speaking, a berry, I never thought of tomatoes as berries.
    By the way, the German word for poinsettias is Weihnachtsstern, Christmas Star.

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    1. Thank you, dear Meike! My Dad has a lot of joy about life and I think we all need to be around people like that!
      I am a bit fascinated by flowers (can you tell?) and whenever you show us something on your blog from the gardens you visit, I am struck by the similarities of our plants. Same goes for birds too, I find this world fascinating!!
      I LOVE the German for poinsettias...Christmas Star! In Mexico, where they come from, they are called La Flor De La Nochebuena, Flower of the Holy Night.

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  3. How wonderful that your dad is fit and well at 87. My dad is 82 but has deteriorated over the last 2 years. Hope you had a great Easter!

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    1. My Dad has been lucky and he knows it. Many of his friends are not as well.
      Thanks, Paul! Keep up with your music!

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  4. Happy birthday to your father! Aloha from Hawaii.

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    1. Aloha! And thanks very much for the well wishes.

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  5. I knew the story behind the dogwood but not the history behind the poinsettia. When we lived in Florida the poinsettias formed a hedge along one side of our house.
    Your dad looks wonderful for his age! He must be doing something right. You are so blessed to have your Daddy alive! xo Diana

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    1. A whole hedge of poinsettias, that sounds lovely!
      Yes, I am thankful for my Dad and glad I am close to him. xx

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  6. I didn't know that story! Thank you!

    And happy birthday to your father. :-)

    Greetings from Minneapolis,

    Pearl

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    1. Hey Pearl!
      Thanks very much for your visit and for your well wishes for my Dad.
      Greetings from Georgia!
      Kay :-)

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  7. Many happy returns of the day to your Father! Thank you for sharing the story of the dogwood, i hadn't heard it in years and had forgotten.

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    1. Thanks very much. Happy to remind folks of the legend of the dogwood. I think its beautiful.

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  8. Our dogwoods here at the Pines haven't bloomed yet..looking forward to seeing green around here sometime! I love those trees! Corn hole is very popular around these parts too...you'll find that game at almost any gathering! It is fun, but not so easy as it looks! Happy Birthday to your Dad! My Mom will be 88 in May and she's still going strong too. Yesterday I was at the nursing home where I take a water aerobics class and an elderly lady was listening to a book on her tablet....and when we asked her what book, she responded "It's William Shakespeare's birthday!" I'm guessing she was listening to something of his? Have a good rest of this week!

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    1. You are correct about Corn hole, it is NOT easy!!
      Hope your Spring greens are on the way now!
      Hey, maybe we will inherit some good genes, here's hoping, right?
      Thanks for your well wishes for my Dad. xx

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  9. Our Dogwoods are all through for the year, didn't know the story about them, so thank you.
    Happy Birthday to your Dad.

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    1. The dogwoods were late this year here, they have just gone past this week. Very happy to share this with you!

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  10. A very Happy Birthday to your Dad!
    No dogwoods here - one of the things I miss.

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    1. Hey Terry!
      Hope all is well for you in Colorado!
      Thanks for your well wishes!

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  11. Happy birthday to your dad.
    I'm glad he's doing well.

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    1. Thanks, John. I hope YOU are doing well! :-)

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    1. Well, he doesn't like to think that he is anyway! :-)

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  13. How wonderful Kay, your sweet dad playing. I love that. My mom loved the dogwood tree. I planted one here and it only lived two years. Your pictures are beautiful and the header picture is the best. xoxo,Susie

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    1. Thank you so much, Susie! You are so sweet! YOU are the best!! xx

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  14. Yes, sounds like the dogwoods timed things just right.

    I hope your father had a super birthday.

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    1. Celebrating a birthday on Easter Sunday, couldn't get any better!

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  15. Happy birthday to your Dad! Enjoyed your dogwood story too as I hadn't heard it before. x

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    1. Oh Julie, I am very glad I had this on my blog! And thanks for your well wishes for my Dad!
      I loved your cake with the little bow, made my day, it did! xx

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  16. beautiful trees. think I may plant a few in my yard.

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    1. Oh yes, maybe this will inspire people to plant dogwoods! I will think of myself as a Johnny Appleseed, but with dogwoods!

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  17. New information to me. I always wondered why Poinsettias appeared just at Christmas here and not at any other time. Now I know.

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    1. If you read my reply to Meike from Germany, you will see that it is called Flower of the Holy Night in Mexico, where it is really from. I am glad the nice man from South Carolina realized its beauty and brought it to the world's attention.

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  18. I've never been a huge fan of poinsettias but my parents used to grow pots and pots of lush poinsettias every December. It always amazed me. I'd bring them into my apartment where they'd do a slow death.

    I've loved dogwood ever since I first saw them in the Midwest. I loved seeing their blooms every spring.

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    1. Okay now, if anyone gives you poinsettias, send them to ME!! HA!!
      Richard can take WONDERFUL care of them! He can even get them to survive until the spring and summer and then, they are lush and green!
      I would miss dogwoods if I didn't have them around!

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  19. Oh my gosh! Almost forgot! Happy, happy birthday to your wonderful dad!

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    1. Thanks, Kay! Hope your Mom is doing well also!

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  20. The dogwoods are so beautiful! And we play cornhole, too! I wish your Dad a Happy Birdthday a little late. How did I miss this post until today? And I wish him victory at all the games he plays!

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    1. Ha! My Dad saw someone playing cornhole at a campground, and he just had to get that game! Hope you are better at it than I am!! HA!!
      Thanks for your well wishes! xx

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  21. Hi Kay! I was sitting at Sophie's soccer game this morning and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I had missed your birthday. Made me sad! So I wanted to say that I hope you had a lovely, lovely day on your birthday!!! Happy Happy Belated Birthday to my dear blogging friend, Kay. And I hope your sweet Dad had a lovely birthday as well. XOXOXO, Audrey

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    1. Oh Audrey, you sweet, sweet gal!! Thank you! I had a wonderful birthday! I usually take the day off, but this year, I didn't bother, and my co-workers brought breakfast and birthday cake, and showered me with presents! It was great!! And I got to celebrate with my Dad on Easter Sunday too, so that made it even better. Thanks very much for my Dad's well wishes! xxx

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  22. Hi Kay

    Belated birthday greetings to your father. He is actively participating in a game I had never heard of.

    And thanks for the postcards.

    If you are able to come over this year, Chas and Dave are touring.

    Kind Regards

    Henry

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    1. Hey Henry!
      Do a search on this game, and start making the CORNHOLE game and selling them in England. Do it quickly before someone else beats you to it! I expect you to be expert at this game when I next see you!
      Glad the postcards made it over! The post office people here only get the postage correctly half the time!
      Chas & Dave? Oh MY GOODNESS, you know we love them!!!

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  23. In fact, C and D are playing Eastbourne, Croydon, Brighton - twice- London and Tunbridge Wells this year. All fairly easy to get to.

    H

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    1. Yes! I just looked it up, they will be at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, and I even know where that is!

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  24. Sorry for missing this post until now, Kay....I hope your father enjoyed his birthday.

    We have poinsettias growing here on this property...sharing their colourfulness all about.

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