Dogwoods Always Bloom in Early to Mid April, Why?

By John Kuykendall

I was born on April 17 and, as a child, my birthday always fell the weekend of or after Easter. Then the government, in it’s infinite wisdom, decided to move Easter around every year.
Growing up on a farm you learn a lot about livestock, planting, harvesting and the seasons. If you research this I assure you what I’m about to say is accurate. The Dogwood trees always bloom from early to mid April. Usually between April 4th or 5th to around the 13th to 15th. That doesn’t change.
As a Christian, I believe in the legend of the Dogwood. Legend says the Dogwood was used for the cross that Jesus hung upon and when its blossoms it symbolizes the crucifixion.
According to the legend, the Dogwood was once a tall and very strong and study tree and was capable of bearing heavy loads. The Romans supposedly chose the Dogwood for the cross of Jesus because of the tree’s strength.
After His crucifixion, it is believed that Jesus cursed and blessed the Dogwood making sure it would never grow large enough again to be used to make a cross. He also blessed it to bear the beautiful blooms we see every year as a reminder of His sacrifice to mankind.
The blossoms of the tree have four bracts that are arranged in a cross shape, the tips have marks that sometimes look like nail points and the cluster in the center of the blossom is said to resemble a crown of thorns.
Some even believe the colors of the petals represent the blood shed by Jesus.
As far as I know, the Bible does not specify what type of wood was used to make the cross. Whether it was a Dogwood tree used for the cross or not, the Dogwood tree is one of the most beautiful plants when it blooms and it always let us know that the weather is about to get warmer and the planting season is underway.
It is also believed that a poem, by an unknown poet, may have started the believe that the Dogwood was used to make the cross of Jesus. The poem reads as follows:
The Legend of the Dogwood Tree
Poet: Unknown
When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ’s cross its timbers were chosen
Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
“Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree”, and so
Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom’s center a thorny crown.
“All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of My agony.”
As a Christian, I don’t care if the cross was made from Dogwood, Pine, Oak or any other tree. What I care about is the fact that Jesus died on that cross to give me eternal life. Each year, Easter gives me peace in knowing that three days after His death, Jesus arose.
His death and resurrection gives every Christian the believe of hope and a new beginning. As a Christian, I truly believe that His death and resurrection offers believers new life and hope.
We, as humans, need hope, faith, a kind and giving heart and, most of all, love for our fellow humans. It doesn’t matter what the cross was made from, what matters is that Jesus gave his life for us.
We often forget a Bible verse that describes a Christian. Galatians 2:20 reads as follows: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
That is what Easter is really about.