The legend of the dogwood tree

Dogwood trees are in full bloom in Virginia, and their silky white and pink colors glitter even at dusk. Dogwood is the state flower in Virginia, and of course Virginia falls on the so called "Bible Belt." As such, it is not surprising that the legend of the dogwood has religious undertones. It is said that the dogwood flower had many petals. But after the crucifixion of Jesus, the flowers shed all their petals but four, to represent their respect for the cross. Also, at the edges of the petals, small red dots appeared to represent the blood that Jesus shed on the cross.

While the story perhaps sounds far-fetched, I think the one who came up with the legend was quite clever. Look for yourself, and you may discover the subtle mysteries of this beautiful state flower: