31 Days. 31 Flowers. Teaching kids about the Dogwood Blossom…
Literature and legends bloom with FLOWERS, from lovely little nursery rhymes to sophisticated epic poetry. Knowing the names of flowers, the references to flowers, the symbols of flowers, the language of flowers gives kids a blooming head start in understanding literature and enhancing literacy.
Each day in May, a FLOWER will be presented here at 31 Days. 31 Flowers – 31 Ways to engage your kids in literature, literacy and life in just a few moments a day. Enjoy!
May Flowers: The Dogwood Blossom
The Dogwood Blossom is said to symbolize durability because of the strength of the Dogwood Tree itself. The Dogwood Tree has been used to manufacture such strong things as bobbins, pestles, wheel spokes, butcher’s skewers, dowels, baseball bats, shingles, angler poles, toothpicks and cabinet work.
The most famous story of the Dogwood Blossom has Christian origins as a symbol of the crucifixion of Christ. Legend has it that the Dogwood Tree was once as tall and stately as the mighty Oak and was used as the timber for Christ’s cross. The Dogwood Tree was so distressed at the cruelty for which it was being used that Christ never again allowed a Dogwood Tree to grow large enough to be used to make a cross. Instead, the 4 petals of the Dogwood Blossom would forever represent the cross, the blossom center represent a crown of thorns, the tips of the petals represent nail marks and the red berries represent the blood of Christ.
Also according to Christian legend, the Dogwood Blossoms appear in Spring as a further representation of Christ at Eastertime.
There is another little interesting tidbit regarding the Dogwood Tree itself – that the tree is called a Dogwood because a concoction of its leaves was once used to wash dogs, ridding them of vermin and mange.
Let your kids in on the secrets, stories and legends of the Dogwood Blossom and the Dogwood Tree. Hold a Dogwood Blossom in your hands and see for yourselves if you think the Dogwood Blossom resembles a cross, crown of thorns and nail marks.
Share these stories and legends as you sit beneath the shade of a lovely Dogwood Tree… and perhaps wash your dog under that tree, too!
SHARON, I AM A FRIEND OF DAVE & PAULA MCCLELLAND. MY HUSBAND JOHN WORKED WITH DAVE FOR OVER 40 YEARS. JOHN PASSED AWAY ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO! :'( GETTING BACK TO YOUR STORY ABOVE. IT GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS! I CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE IT WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN……IT’S SO TOUCHING! YOUR DAUGHTER IS LOVELY……..DAVE & PAULA ARE BLESSED TO HAVE HER AS PART OF THEIR FAMILY! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! <3 ANNE WESLOW
Oh, thank you Anne. What a lovely message! Dave and Paula were up here in Rhode Island this past weekend for William’s First Communion. Such a beautiful, beautiful day. I am writing about flowers during the month of May and posted about the lovely Dogwood Blossom and its spiritual connection on William’s special day. Thank you for reading, sharing with your grandkids and for commenting. Hope to see you here again!
I absolutely LOVE the Dogwood! In fact, our neighbors house was foreclosed on, and they have two beautiful dogwoods in the back yard. Since the house is being dismantled and the yard cleared I am afraid they will chop down these beautiful trees and a part of me wants to sneak over in the night and dig them up for our yard! haha
Thank you for sharing the history, and interesting facts about these gorgeous trees!
Oh, Sarah… if you could figure a way to dig up those beauties and give them life in your yard! xo!
I love that this tree has a connection to dogs! Isn’t that something that it could’ve been used to keep them clean. Ahh, simper days!
I wonder if the truth still holds about washing the dog with the dogwood? My pup could really use a bath! What a beautiful tree!
I love this! And I love the dogwood blossom! I was just admiring them today- so lovely. Thanks for the info behind the beauty! 🙂
Oh that is so cool that there is a connection to dogs! I never heard of the dogwood blossom! Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing the sad but touching facts about its origins. Such a beautiful post. XO
My daughter, Ava, loves hearing about & learning about flowers! This is the 1st year she has really been into them, so perfect time to see this series of posts! I know the basic flowers, but it’s been fun learning about all the other kinds! Her current obsession is pointing out tulips, daffodils & forsythia!
I just got some Dogwood at our town plant sale and I was so excited to read about them. Thanks for sharing!!!
I learn SO much from you! Thank you for sharing this- I wish we had a bigger yard to plant, but dogwood is on the list of what I want when we do sell!