Tennessee Valley Nursery - Winchester, Tenn. 
Y 
The Legend of the “DOGWOOD 
There is a legend, that at the time of the Cruci- 
fixion the dogwood had been the size of the 
oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong 
was the tree that it was chosen as the timber 
for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel 
purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, 
nailed upon it, sensed-this, and in His gentle 
pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: 
‘Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, 
never again shall the dogwood tree grow large 
enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it 
shall be slender and bent and twisted and its 
blossoms shall be in the form of a cross... two 
long and two short petals. And 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 it will remember... that 
it was upon a dogwood tree I was crucified and 
this tree shall not be mutilated or destroyed, but 
cherished as a reminder of My death upon the 
CTOss.« 
