For some reason, this is a good year for the dogwood. Local dogwoods are in fine form. Even the little one in our yard is blooming prolifically.
It is the provincial floral emblem of British Columbia.
The Dogwood Speaks Out
One day I could be forty-five,
That’s feet in height, I mean.
My flowers are a velvet white
With just a hint of green.
Their petals number four to six,
But never all the same,
And now I’m sure you’re wondering,
“How did it get that name?”
In Sanskrit, I am named for “dag,”
Which happens to be “skewer,”
But changing “dag” to “dog” makes sense,
And questions asked are fewer.
The berries on my flowers feed
An awful lot of birds,
And deer who want to browse my twigs
Keep munching them in herds.
The bears and beavers eat my leaves,
Perhaps they think I’m salad.
Then satisfied, they amble on,
They burp and sing a ballad.
For tanning agents and for dyes,
My bark is useful too.
The Salish and the Thompsons somehow
Knew just what to do.
The Cowichans made knitting needles
From my solid wood.
They knitted sweaters with designs
As often as they could.
I’m useful and I’m beautiful,
I’m really quite a tree,
For B.C.’s floral emblem
They’ve officially chosen me.
May 7, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Love the photos and poem! 😎🇨🇦
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May 7, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Thank you, John.
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May 7, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Nicely done, Anneli! Love the photos, too!
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May 7, 2018 at 5:37 pm
Thanks, Jill.
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May 7, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Lots of beautiful dogwoods in bloom inVancouver. It was one of my Mum’s favourite flowers.
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May 7, 2018 at 5:37 pm
I bet there are! Great time of year. Didn’t your mom do a painting of a dogwood branch?
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May 7, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Quite the tree. Lovely shots and poem.
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May 7, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Thanks, Belinda. It’s still small but it’s loaded this year.
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May 7, 2018 at 5:07 pm
Your dogwood is so pretty!
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May 7, 2018 at 5:36 pm
It’s finally starting to look nice, after so many years of just hanging in there.
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May 7, 2018 at 5:51 pm
What a great poem and photos! 🙂
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May 7, 2018 at 5:52 pm
TY, Lynette.
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May 7, 2018 at 6:11 pm
A beautiful poem for a beautiful tree 🙂
Life is Good !
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May 7, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Glad you liked it, Hans.
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May 7, 2018 at 6:16 pm
I love your poem! The plant is an excellent emblem!
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May 7, 2018 at 10:08 pm
Thanks, Terry. I have fun making up these little ditties. It’s quite a unique tree, I think.
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May 7, 2018 at 7:56 pm
Recently my wife and I visited our latest granddaughter in Victoria. So many dogwood trees in full blossoms attracted our attention. Unfortunately, they are not doing so well in the Interior. Great photos, my friend!
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May 7, 2018 at 10:09 pm
Yes, Victoria is full of them. Well, provincial capital and provincial floral emblem, they have to go together.
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May 7, 2018 at 8:12 pm
They burp and sing a ballad! Ha!
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May 7, 2018 at 10:09 pm
I know!!!! Sorry! The Captain rolled his eyes at that part.
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May 7, 2018 at 8:15 pm
A poet and a botanist on our glorious dogwood tree, specially favored as our B.C. Floral emblem. Very appreciated Anneli, another A+!
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May 7, 2018 at 10:10 pm
Thanks for reading, Marsha.
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May 7, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Your poem is as beautiful as the tree itself. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Lynne
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May 7, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Thank you, Lynne. Nice to see you here.
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May 7, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Great photos, Anneli. Love the poem too. You are so clever. 🙂
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May 7, 2018 at 10:12 pm
Ha ha, you think so? If you weren’t related to me, I’d feel all self-important. Thanks!
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May 8, 2018 at 3:21 am
So lovely!
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May 8, 2018 at 7:09 am
TY, Jennie.
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May 8, 2018 at 11:07 am
You’re welcome, Anneli.
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May 8, 2018 at 9:30 am
Beautiful poem and beautiful shots.
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May 8, 2018 at 10:40 am
Thank you, Deepa.
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May 8, 2018 at 12:03 pm
A wonderful tree with wonderful flowers on it and a very wonderful poem! Your post just made me feel so good and happy! Thanks for sharing this wonderful post
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May 8, 2018 at 3:28 pm
That’s so good to hear, Ursula. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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May 8, 2018 at 1:01 pm
what a inspiring and beautiful post! the poem, the tree… lovely Anneli
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May 9, 2018 at 6:42 am
Ein schönes und auch noch informatives Gedicht, liebe Anneli.
Herzliche Grüße,
Martina
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May 9, 2018 at 7:17 am
Thank you, Martina. Have a great week.
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May 9, 2018 at 11:51 am
Mine aren’t quite there yet, but what beautiful trees. Your dogwood is amazing. And thanks for sharing your poem. I had no idea it was more than just a beautiful tree. 🙂
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May 9, 2018 at 11:56 am
I learned a few things from looking it up too.
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May 9, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Great poem. I especially love the burping bears and beavers.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Thank you. I like to put a bit of silliness in a serious blog post. Glad you liked it.
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May 10, 2018 at 4:15 am
I like to do the same thing.
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