The Legend of the Dogwood

As legend has it, the cross on which Jesus was crucified was made from a dogwood tree. After the crucifixion, God was said to alter the tree to its current form by dwarfing its growth. This was to ensure the end of its use for making crosses forever. Before the blooms of the dogwood tree open they present as a bright red, clustered fruit said to represent the blood of Christ. The flower of the dogwood upon blooming has four petals, forming the shape of a cross. The brownish notch at the end of each petal resembles the mark made by a nail. The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns and is often represented with the color green to signify re-birth and spring. The dogwood blooms in April when Easter Sunday marks the Resurrection of Christ after the Crucifixion.