Dogwood Blooms

On the day after Christmas, I went into the back yard with a cup of coffee and a book. I have a special place in the yard that I just love. It's a glider, under a lattice awning covered with vines. It's one of the first things I fell in love with when I first looked at our house.
So, as soon as I sat down on my glider, I looked at the ground and saw two perfect dogwood blooms. They were just lying very nicely on the ground. The odd thing about that is....we don't have any dogwood trees. I knew we didn't, because I love them and I'd have noticed. But just in case, I checked the front yard, back yard, and the yards beside us. No dogwood trees. And even though we're in Florida, I doubt they'd be blooming right now anyway.
I still have no idea where these blooms came from, but considering it was the day after Christmas and knowing the Legend of the Dogwood, it was a very touching and interesting experience.

The Legend of the Dogwood

An old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.

*Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Only 2 more days until the Royal Drawing.*