~dagwood~

Every year I tell myself to be sure to watch the dogwood flowers transition from green to white - and every year I forget. 

Perhaps this is the year?  Or perhaps it is just fine to miss the transition...from this to that?

~~~~~

It is definitely spring here along coastal South Carolina, but it has been a very non-commital spring - warmth followed by a cool night and cool windy day, then warmth again - we've been bouncing around a bit more than normal it seems.  But the plants are taking advantage of the warmth when they can, and are responding to the longer day lengths - leaves are coming out on all of the hydrangeas (including the new ones planted last year that I can't wait to see), the pomegranate and dogwood, and spring-blooming magnolias.  Soon the red clover will be blooming, and the irises...and yes, spring is here.

~~~~~

When I was a kid, I remember the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival , where there would always be the dogwood parade and the crowning of the dogwood queen (which is not to be confused with Saginaw Michigan's bean and beet queens) - and what's with this dagwood thing?  From Wikipedia:  'The word dogwood comes from dagwood, from the use of the slender stems of very hard wood for making 'dags' (daggers, skewers).'

And, of course, all of this makes me think of the other dogwood.  Boy do I still miss her.

~~~~~

But tonight is not for parades or queens or transitions - there is a newly published article to read (and read carefully), a report to write (rather, a report to start gathering information for), a student's dissertation chapter to re-edit and another proposal section to review, oh, and a manuscript to review - and there's just a pile of things to get through.  I should probably start. 

~~~~~

small bracts, emerging

shade of green, no hint of white

flawless transition

~~~~~

Yes, I'm procrastinating.  It's the old 'I can come up with a quick haiku instead of start on that report' ploy.  It works everytime.

~~~~~

four petals open

stretching, reaching, green on green

no one notices

~~~~~

Yep, it's now the 'write a second poorly constructed haiku' ploy.  I'm a highly successful procrastinator.

Comments

[David E. Perry]

Pam,

How wonderful! And having followed the reference back to your other Dogwood. . . heartfelt and beautiful. Thank you for the generous gifts.

[Pam]

Thanks David - your kind words are much appreciated.

[Ki]

I thought dagwood was a misspelling ;) Interesting information as to its etymology. Why would they wash dogs in a "brew of the bark" when they rarely washed themselves? To rid the dogs of vermin or to disguise the dog's scent from game?

[Pam]

Ki, I don't know - but to disguise the dog's scent sounds reasonable. The other possibility is that it helps with pests (fleas), etc. Maybe? Maybe the bark is a natural insecticide.