It’s not hard to see why flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) are classed as one of America’s most breathtaking native ...

The response from government botanists was that the beloved dogwood, that living symbol of the American spring with its stellar white blossoms, was in dire straits.

Because of the timeliness of this tree’s floral beauty and the popularity of the poem “The Legend of the Dogwood” by an unknown author, this tree has become a much beloved symbol of Easter.

Southern springtime and sacred symbolism converge at Easter, as azaleas and dogwood mingle with lilies and daffodils, harkening Charleston to breathe deeply the sweet perfume of life in its fullness.

The flowering dogwood is the state tree of Virginia, and some notable Virginians – Washington and Jefferson -planted them on their estates. Dogwoods don’t usually grow taller that 20 to 40 feet.