Dogwood Tree

A Cornus (Dogwood) tree has a space by the Dog-Path, sheltered from the southerly winds by existing Pittosporums. My records name it as Cornus florida. This picture shows the start of its beautiful autumn leaf colour.

What a treat it is to check each Autumn day to see how red the colour has become. Then suddenly I am looking at a winter skeleton of branches and twigs!

dog-path cornus in 2002

As this Cornus is a slow growing tree, I'm slow to react and clear the sheltering Pittosporum branches.

dog-path cornus in 1998

Three Dogwood Trees

I am very glad that I decided to plant some Dogwoods in the gardens over the water race. It was almost by accident that I chose three to be planted here. I tried to choose trees with two or three seasons of beauty, rather than be seduced by just flowers or just blossom.

The new trees were very exciting to plant - it was so hard to imagine them big and tall. I was lucky to have existing Pittosporums and Viburnum Tinus shrubs - these provided shelter and substance while the Dog-Path garden was fresh and new.

I'm hoping that I've got the name right.