Dogwood Autumn

Planted in front of the local Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union is a lovely flowering dogwood which brings delight to us in our daily walk. Today, it looked sad, losing its green to the cooler evenings as summer slips away and autumn rumbles in.

This dogwood is not native to our area; it was planted as part of landscaping and I’m glad: its beauty reminds us to pause in the rush of the day. It is probably a cornus florida  dogwood. Remember that those red “drupes” are poisonous though their pop of color draws our eyes to it and lets us know that summer is leaving.

The native dogwood — native to most of North America — is the red osier dogwood [Cornus stolonifera]. This tall bush sprouted on its own in our backyard and is now part of the canopy that shades our yard. It’s seeds probably arrived in what the deer leave behind…

It’s a lovely bush as well, with its red stems that beam throughout the year. These bushes were used in making baskets throughout history; more info at the US Forest Service here.

What seasonal changes display in your neighborhood?

#clmooc #feldgang almost #silentsunday dogwood