Winter Dogwood

The twigs of the dogwood were encased in ice.  The little knobs are the buds for next spring.  Hopefully they'll recover.

 

Dogwoods

Dogwoods in bloom.

 

Next wave

The native Dogwoods have finished blooming.  Now the Kousa Dogwoods take their turn.  These trees are native to Asia but they do great in North Carolina. (see here)

 

Dogwoods!

Seemingly dead trees come to life with white flowers.

 

Last of the dogwoods

These little cuties bloom later than the native dogwoods and are smaller and pointy.  They cover the trees right now.

 

Dogwoods

It's dogwood season again!

 

Hug a tree

This large dogwood was hugging a smaller beech tree.  Are they friends?

 

Dogwoods at last

The dogwoods are finally glowing white.

 

Waiting for the Dogwoods

The dogwoods have had buds for months.  They're finally beginning to open.   Spring is on the way!

 

Extreme close up II

Mallow

Dogwood

White

Late flowering dogwood

Paper whites

Who knows?  They look like little Japanese lanterns.

Dogwoods again

It's time to say goodbye to the dogwoods.  The early ones, in the sun, are done.  The later ones, in the shade, are just ending their bloom.

Dogwoods

North Carolina's version of a spring snow.

Dogwood fall

The dogwoods have their berries ready to feed the birds this winter.

The dogwoods are out!

Dogwoods look so graceful when they bloom.

Dogwoods

The dogwoods are in full bloom.  Pink 

And white.

 This house has both together.

Fall Dogwood

The most amazing thing I've found about North Carolina are the beautiful forests.  Even in and around Raleigh the trees are wondrous.  

I've learned lately that this might not always be true.  There is more and more development around the city, cutting down the thick forests.  But even worse, our forests are being cut to make wood pellets that are sent to Europe for Biomass Electrical plants.  The Dogwood Alliance is a group fighting this forest decimation.  Their motto: Our Forests Aren't Fuel.  See here for more information.

Dogwoods

Dogwoods in bloom!