Hello April, It May Be Dogwood Winter

I said my goodbyes to March. As usual March went swooshing by in maybe five minutes. Here we are in the beautiful month of April, my birth month and so it goes.

March came in like the roaring lion it can be and went out as gentle as a sweet lamb. Gone for another year. Although no March will be quite like the one we just had. It couldn’t be. You wouldn’t want it to be for one reason or another. But isn’t that true of every month, year and even every day? Ok I might be getting off track. Back to brand new April and the Dogwoods.

The temps here yesterday were mid 80’s F and then today they plummeted to the mid 50’sF. What?? First of all let me explain. We are more than likely experiencing Dogwood Winter. Yes I know it is a little early in the month for Dogwood Winter but who am I to say it is not. Dogwood Winter is the second of many teasing winters that keep popping up in our area until full spring or summer arrives. This is what a lot of the early settlers believe and some still do. I follow these winters very closely. My husband poo poos me and calls me crazy. The weather is just what it is here he says. He says the temps will drop because a cold front is coming through. Yes it is I say, it is called Dogwood Winter!!!!

What is this Dogwood Winter? Well my dear friend it is when the beautiful dogwood trees start to flower, it follows Red Bud Winter. It is often hard to know exactly when Dogwood Winter will hit because the Dogwood trees may bloom at different times from region to region. I think it is no coincidence that the Dogwoods are flowering and a cold snap is coming. Just look at the temps for this week.

Usually Dogwood Winter falls later in April and who knows, we may have cooler temps again as we get into the middle of April and more dogwoods start flowering. I will tell you I am worried about the new blossoms that are blooming and these cold temps we will have in the next few days. It could really hurt some of the newly budding trees.

If you want to know when the last frost of the year will be and when it is safe to plant your gardens, then all you have to do is look at your Farmer’s Almanac. Or research some data online for the average frost dates. Our ancestors didn’t have the Farmer’s Almanac or Google to help determine when they should plant their crops. They had to rely on the changes that the seasons brought about. Because the Dogwood trees usually bloom out around mid April or even to early May, and this just happened to be the same time that the last frost would take place, they knew it wasn’t safe to plant their crops until the Dogwoods finished blooming Most old timers will tell you this is too early to be Dogwood Winter but all I know is, they’re blooming and it is suddenly winter again.

I leave you with some of my favorite Dogwood photos that I have taken throughout the years and a poem by an unknown author. The Legend Of The Dogwood. I will take more pictures this year and I will share those as well.

The Legend Of The Dogwood:

There is a legend that at the time of the crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly dis- tressed the tree, and our Lord, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in his gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: “Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a
cross, two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it
will remember.”

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!