Spontaniety -The Dogwood
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The Dogwood
Waxy, four leafed petal Glossy against forest green Deep veined leaves Pointing, curving heavenward |
Spontaneity
Spontaneity of the spirit implies trust in oneself and trust in one’s surroundings. Enthusiasm rushes up from the core and grabs the moment in an act of pure joy. This is an act of now! The Dogwood comes into its own in a shining moment and knows instinctively to seize that time and that place to shine. |
On the banks of the creek is a dogwood tree, Cornus nuttallii, bursting forth with white blossoms each spring. The color is such a startling contrast that it is like an aria from an expert soprano, soaring with beauty against the chorus of green behind it. The rest of the year it is rather non-exceptional, actually almost invisible. It is not a large tree, not stately or grand. However, in the spring when the time is right, just about May, it surges to the spotlight and eclipses anything else in view. It’s as if it knows its time and place and with that glory it is more than content to be itself.
The dogwood flower has four petals with indents in the fringe of each petal. Many religious minds have compared it to a cross. Thus, it has symbolic power for some as it sprays its elegance across the native tapestry. The flowers themselves are not house friendly exhibits. They are seldom picked like the Puss willows to be in floral arrangements. They belong in the woods. There they last until June, flowering and adding a spectacular dimension to the landscape. The drupes or fruits form after flowering and give food to the birds and other wildlife. The leaves are notable for their deep veins that curve to become parallel to the edges. The dogwood name is said to come from the old English term for dagger, as the wood may have been used for making them. Chaucer referred to them as the “whipple tree” in his Canterbury Tales.
I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau
gardening.wsu.edu/library/best010/best010.ht
treesandshrubs.about.com/.../Dogwood-Trees-Shrubs-Corn.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_(genus
The dogwood flower has four petals with indents in the fringe of each petal. Many religious minds have compared it to a cross. Thus, it has symbolic power for some as it sprays its elegance across the native tapestry. The flowers themselves are not house friendly exhibits. They are seldom picked like the Puss willows to be in floral arrangements. They belong in the woods. There they last until June, flowering and adding a spectacular dimension to the landscape. The drupes or fruits form after flowering and give food to the birds and other wildlife. The leaves are notable for their deep veins that curve to become parallel to the edges. The dogwood name is said to come from the old English term for dagger, as the wood may have been used for making them. Chaucer referred to them as the “whipple tree” in his Canterbury Tales.
I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau
gardening.wsu.edu/library/best010/best010.ht
treesandshrubs.about.com/.../Dogwood-Trees-Shrubs-Corn.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_(genus
