There is a smallish tree – really, more of a sapling – down at the edge of the property. It’s right next to our deceased shag hickory, which needs to be taken down. We have a lot of saplings that spring up on the property. Last year, right at the end of its bloom, I looked at the tree and realized it was a dogwood.
Oh, wonderful!
This year, its bloom is even more abundant, as if it is entering adulthood. Taking photos requires some dexterity, as it’s wedged into a tight corner. Worth it.
I love the pink buds which open into a lovely white flower.
Splendiferous.
Dogwoods spring up all over the place in these parts. But this beauty is on our property and that makes me very happy indeed.
Update: Reader Nancy just wrote me to say dogwoods have four leaves. Whoops! I think this may be a crabapple tree. Frankly, I like that idea a whole lot better because they are gorgeous!
Don and I went to a local nursery yesterday and bought mulch and some potting soil and new garden gloves for me (I go through them at an alarming rate) and a flat of impatiens to add to pots that were overwintered and some morning glory and zinnia seeds.
And we bought a little garden cart to replace our wheelbarrow. We have a perfectly good wheelbarrow but a couple of years ago something happened. I had turned it upside down on the ground near the shed and after a few months, I decided to move it. However, as I lifted it, my astonished eyes saw something. Ants, the tiny variety, had built an entire city underneath the wheelbarrow. Tall buildings, short buildings, openings, pathways – it was extraordinary. It reminded me of some ancient cliff dwelling you might see in the Southwest. They scurried here and there – lots of activity, of course – but they were clearly more than a bit panicked about being exposed. So I gently set the wheelbarrow back in place and told Don about it. And ever since that day, we occasionally check on them in early spring when they are active once more but other than that, we leave them be. They’re safe there. They don’t harm anything. And they are amazing.
This year we might paint the wheelbarrow with an ant design, officially making it their home – even though it already is. So that’s why I had to buy a little cart, so that I can use it to move the mulch as I spread it here and there in the garden. It will come in handy in all sorts of ways.
It’s too hot, of course, with the high today going to 87°. But it’s sunny and I can work outside.
And I made it through the night without coughing for the first time in over a week.
Happy Friday.
The dogwood is so beautiful; I know nothing about it. Love your ant story. I can’t believe how hot your weather got so fast.
Way too fast. It’s supposed to get cooler next week. I welcome it!
Claudia, I have been having trouble leaving comments for your site…it’s my cranky computer. I love your flowering trees. Our weather has been crazy. Days of eighty degrees. Too hot for May. Too hot for me. I like seventies the best. 65-75 is the best. Hope you enjoy your weekend. xoxo,Susie
Sorry. We all suffer from cranky computers at times! You’re right, Susie -too darn hot for May!
Absolutely beautiful photos today and in yesterdays post! I am in the market for a SLR camera. Are you happy with yours? Nice to hear you had a restful night and I hope the weekend shows even more improvement. I’m off to scrub the porch and porch furniture!
I’m very happy with mine. It’s a Canon Rebel t3i and it works beautifully. I have a couple of lenses, and would like to add one more to capture some of the birds I see that are far off. (Maybe this summer)
Love the colors of the dogwood flowers! When I met with the landscaper, we toured my pathetic yard and she identified a number of volunteers for me. Turns out I have a plum tree, courtesy of a bird that left a seed in my yard. I love the dark purple bark, so will leave it. Since it is a volunteer, I’m letting my daughter practice her pruning on it.
Good idea. I like volunteers, Wendy!
Hi Claudia, It is amazing to me how completely opposite our weather has been over this last year! We had a warm,winter including Jan, Feb, March, April,Now May the Month I always “Trust” to be beautiful? Cold rain storms one after another! Oh May how you’ve betrayed me.
BEAUTIFUL! Dogwood!!, I’m wondering why would someone get rid of a tree just because it’s a volunteer? It seems to me that alone would vouch for it’s strength and viability? Every good climbing tree I’ve EVER come across,is a Chinese Elm! -Judy A-
Volunteers are the backbone of our communities – and our gardens!
You have an ant village…cute story…you should definitely paint your wheelbarrow! It was 82 yesterday…but beautiful breezes kept it from feeling hot. I’m off later to buy some flowers…time to enhance things a bit. Your volunteer dogwood is beautiful! I’ve got 2 red twigged dogwoods that are just starting to bloom. Enjoy mulching! ;)
Nancy tells me it’s a crabapple tree, not a dogwood! Yippee! I love crabapples.
Once again, your photographs are breathtaking, Claudia. The pink and white and green against the blue sky is lovely. It looks like a fairy tale tree.
Nancy, I’ve edited the post! I think you’re right – it’s a crabapple. We’re giddy because I LOVE crabapple trees!
LOVE the ant story!! Their own working village! I hope you do some fun painting on the wheelbarrow and share it with us! Another fun way to brighten up a corner in the yard.
Ah, mulch. We had 4 yards delivered this AM. Now it will stare us down until it is distributed.
The absolute most fun part of spring (for me) has arrived as the trips to the various Nurseries will begin. yay!
Saw Jim Parsons on Today this AM and thought of you. His new plays sounds wonderful. Hope you will get to see it!!
Have fun in the yard, and so glad to hear you had a cough-free night!
It was so nice to wake up and realize that I hadn’t coughed. But then I coughed.
so funny! When I read your reply ~ you said “And then I coughed.” reminded me of that old Shirrels, Rondells, (??) song “And then he kissed me.” Now I will be singing that song all day….
I was going to tell you that the tree is not a dogwood but someone beat me to it. The center is different also. Pretty photos. Glad you had a good night’s sleep!
Judy
I’m thrilled that it’s a crabapple, Judy. I like dogwoods but I love crabapples. I don’t know a lot about flowering trees, obviously!
Ah! So funny that you would buy a cart so you can leave the wheelbarrow for the ants. Sounds like something my husband would do. Made me smile!
Well, they’ve worked so hard at building their city, Ann!
What a pretty tree. You have some pretty quick readers- and then there I am. I don’t know a Dogwood from a Crabapple tree. :/
I do now! Thank MHC readers and you Claudia for sharing your photos.
Glad to hear you slept with now coughing. ;)
I’m not very well educated as to flowering trees, having never had one before. Love that my readers can educate me!
I have no idea what your tree is but it is very pretty. As for the ants…great story! I think you should paint the wheelbarrow. Glad you are feeling a little better.
Hopefully, we’ll get around to painting it. When it isn’t so friggin’ hot out!
Very glad you’re feeling better. I saw a report on the news last night that the pollen count is off-the-charts right now. A pollen tsunami, they’re calling it. Even people who’re not normally bothered with allergies are experiencing the fun of them this year. Bummer! They think it has something to do with the hideous Winter. And good for you – sacrificing your wheelbarrow so the ants’ home remains undisturbed. That has GOT to be good karma. Have fun working in the garden this weekend! PS – I have a crabapple outside my bedroom window and it is just beautiful right now.
They truly are beautiful, so I hope this little fella will thrive here!
I have to agree with the other Nancy..it is a crabapple tree..a dogwoods flowers have four petals..Did you ever hear the Christian legend of the dogwoog tree??..A Christian legend of unknown origin proclaims that the cross used to crucify Jesus was constructed of dogwood.. As the story goes, during the time of Jesus, the dogwood was larger and stronger than it is today and was the largest tree in the area of Jerusalem. After His Crucifixion, Jesus changed the plant to its current form: He shortened it and twisted its branches to assure an end to its use for the construction of crosses. He also transformed its inflorescence into a representation of the Crucifixion itself, with the four white bracts cross-shaped representing the four corners of the Cross, each bearing a rusty indentation as of a nail, the red stamens of the flower representing Jesus’ Crown of Thorns, and the clustered red fruit representing His Blood…Anyway they are both beautiful trees..
I’m happy to be educated in flowering trees, Nancy, never an area I’ve really known much about. Here’s to my crabapple!
I love the ant story! You must paint the wheelbarrow! I knew from the photos it was not a Dogwood but wasn’t sure what i was so glad that Nancy knew. We have so so many dogwoods here and a few years ago I got some gorgeous photos of them so that’s why I knew the difference. Glad you are feeling better. That pesky cough can last a long time. I am late reading blog posts as I spent the day helping my daughter. Tiger has strep throat and had to go to the Dr and I kept the baby. Long day for all of us.
hugs,
Linda
We had an enormous crabapple tree in the back yard of my parents’ house that was astonishingly beautiful when in full bloom. Wishing you many more years in your cottage, watching the crabapple tree grow.
I always wanted an ant farm to watch them build and dig. I saw a really large one on some tv program. I don’t think it was for real but it would be so fun.
Your tree is pretty. I don’t know the difference between the two species. It will be a fun when you figure it out. Can you do anything with crab apples? I don’t even know.
Hi Claudia
Lucky ants!
I’m not sure about your dogwood. See, the blossoms of a dogwood have four petals. Yours have five. It looks like apple blossoms to me. These would be a member of the rose family (rosaceae).