Dogwood
Dogwood
Cornus
Dogwood is a common native species of tree and shrub. It can be divided into two types – early Summer flowering Cornus with striking flower bracts and Cornus with Winter stem colour. The latter is widespread, and for most of the year it stays undercover and unnoticed, but in the Autumn and through the Winter, it truly comes into its own.
In the Autumn its leaves turn crimson and as they fall they reveal the glorious, beautiful framework of red branches underneath, sometimes with clusters of dark black berries still clinging to the stems.
Dogwoods can be seen in large swathes of different firework colours, sometimes red, but also vivid greens and yellows providing hibernal cheer in dull Winter woodlands. Lakes and ponds are often encircled by Dogwoods which give a wonderful ring of colour like a halo around the edge of the water. I look forward to seeing Dogwoods at this time of year. There is a magnificent patch of Dogwoods as I am driving out of Wales, near to the Severn Bridge, The Prince of Wales Bridge, on the left hand side, just where the old toll booths were.
Athene English