Thursday, March 22, 2012

~Virginia Dogwood Season Revisited~

Hello friends...well it's Springtime here in Virginia. 
Since my part of the country is in full bloom,
I thought I would revisit a post I did a couple of years ago.
So many of you are new to my blog and maybe have not seen this post.
I think it's a keeper... enjoy!
So hop on your bike and come along! 

Lovely Lees Ridge Road, Virginia
Proud to say "I live here"

Hello friends... I thought you would like to see what  Dogwood season here in Virginia is like, I will take you on a little tour of my country road. The road I live on is lined with gorgeous horse farms and old stone walls (not as old as yours Gretel). Many beautiful homes dot the landscape...some new and many dating back before the Civil War. The Redbuds are at their peak with their lovely lilac pink flowers. Once the flowers fade they will don wonderful heart shaped glossy green leaves.

All the pink and white dogwoods are just coming into full bloom. Although the dogwood is the state flower of Virginia, they are very hard to grow..go figure. I have been babying one for ten years and it is only about 6 feet tall and just started blooming. Those lucky enough to have them on their property are rewarded with delicate blooms that seem to float in the air. 







These beautiful trees have a story behind them. It seems that during the time of Crucifixion, the dogwood tree was known for it's strength and hard wood. It was chosen as the tree that would supply the timber for the cross Jesus would be nailed to. To be used for such a cruel purpose distressed the tree greatly and Jesus sensed this. Jesus told the mighty Dogwood that to ease it's guilt, it would never again be used for such a task. From then on the dogwood would never grow tall and it's trunk and branches would be twisted and bent. The blossoms would be in the shape of a cross with nail marks of rust red at the point of each petal with a crown of thorns at the center. All who see this shall remember.


I love how the flowers seem to float in the air. This is actually a side street a few minutes away, but I love the stone house as a backdrop for the delicate flowers. Great contrast.


I love this whole row of pink and white Dogwoods


With the grass being so very green, it makes for a wonderful contrast.

This is a neighbors long driveway..all the tiny white dots are Dogwood blossoms

I really adore this large blooming cherry tree...seems everywhere I look I see pink and green!

Right behind me is a lovely estate called Hunting Ridge, owned by two beautiful ladies that I am so happy to call my friends. The main house on their property is a very cool pre Civil War house with little doorways, gorgeous original wood floors with wonderful creaks and great history. They even have their own tiny cemetary...how cool is that! In the back yard their mother planted two rows of lilacs some 50+ years ago.

I love how they have grown together creating a natural arbor.

I wish you could smell the old-fashioned, romantic aroma of these wonderful old lilacs...pure heaven.



All along the stone walk these little Johnny Jump-ups are growing through all the crevices.

This beautiful show of pinks, whites and mauves does not last very long and I make a point to take time to appreciate the beauty all around me. It always makes me smile. Soon it will be azalea, peony and iris season...that's a whole other post!
I hope you have enjoyed my country road here in Warrenton,Virginia. Be sure to come back again real soon.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

52 comments:

Abreaka Studios said...

omg!! so beautiful!! its like a fairy tale :)

Gretel said...

Janet, you live in the most beautiful part of the US I've ever seen - lilacs lining the lanes! We don't have dogwoods, so I was so interested to find out a little more about this flower, I've only seen it mentioned in books. And I shall be calling violets Johnny Jumpups from now on! (That is a stunning house btw)

My Life Under the Bus said...

I so miss my old house we had a row of lilacs and flowering trees that made spring pretty awesome. We've got a whole lot of nothing here : (. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Audrey said...

What beautiful photos!! It will be another month or so before our trees start to bloom :(

Kelly Ann said...

I saw a dogwood this weekend that had both white and pink flowers on the same tree...what an amazing site...btw..bread in two days...woot woot

Lori P said...

I moved from Virginia a couple of years ago and it is still my home. You took us on a lovely visual walk. Beautiful.

Marilyn said...

Janet, beautiful pics! Don't you just love the little Johnny Jump Ups? They always look so happy!

Aprons and More said...

So pretty! Don't you just love spring?!! Thank you for sharing!

Katy :)

The LadyBugs Garden said...

This is a great time of year we get to see the beauty of nature after a long winter of snow.
I love these photos.

Marie said...

I loved our walk (drive?). I can still smell the lilacs - nothing smells quite like that. Thanks for the trip down your country road.

Marie

Marie said...
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Marie said...

I loved our walk (drive) down your country road. I can still smell the lilacs - nothing smells quite like that. Thanks for the trip down your country road.

Marie said...
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Shelley said...

Beautiful, beautiful pictures! I love Dogwood trees!

Samantha said...
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Samantha said...

(Sorry for the "uh-oh" above!)
What an interesting story behind the dogwood tree. I've lived in Va. most of my life and have never heard that.
Beautiful photos!

so many memories said...

Dogwoods and lilacs are among my favorites. Spring is my favorite season and I love seeing everyone's photos! Thanks for sharing your beautiful views!

Danielle said...

Wow, how gorgeous! I don't know how anyone on that road could ever have a bad day.

w said...

gorgeous. when am i visiting?

also. we have grass blooming here. yeah. really exciting.

Wanda..... said...

I could smell the Lilacs in that natural arbor...mine are just starting to bloom, as are the Dogwood. Thanks for the tour, Janet, they were beautiful photos!
♥...Wanda

Yellow House Knits said...

How lovely! It's like something from a fairy tale. I have a great dogwood right in front of our house that usually looks spectacular, but this year it's not as beautiful as usual. I'm bummed--and jealous of your loveliness!

Lisa - the Multitasking Momma said...

Your pictures sure brightened my day. Thanks for sharing them with the blogging world!

Joey Lynn Resciniti said...

Your photos are breath taking! I love spring!

Anonymous said...

I have looked at your pictures a few times and each time I fall in love them even more. How beautiful.

I have tagged you on my post today. It's a made up meme but just a bit of fun. If it's not your thing no worries xxxx

Julia said...

Wonderful biblical fact! Also these trees are just plaing gorgeous. We have dogwoods too but they are NOT as showy by any stretch of the imagination.

Unknown said...

There is so much to said about the wonderful old homes and sleepy calm roads and lanes where you live. How could anyone EVER be stressed! All you have to do is go for a walk or drive through the beautiful countryside! AHHHH I love it where you live! I love visiting my daughter in NC, her back yard is woods and so beautiful! Thanks for trip...I can smell the wonderful aroma!

Jacquelyn Stager said...

Hi Janet...thanks for stopping by my place recently. I'm so far behind in keeping up with blogland that it's pathetic. Loved these photos. Now, you must be somewhere near Charlottesville and Monticello because that road looks so familiar. We vacationed there about a year ago. BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY! I wanna move to Virginia!!!

Debbie said...

Hi Janet,
I stumbled on your fab blog yesterday - just love those stunning pics. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. We don't have dogwood here in the UK, as far as I know - but then I'm not known for my horticultural skills. Just ask hubby!!
And thanks for visiting and following my blog ... I've a LOT to learn about blogging, not least to remember to try to look at it more often. Going back to look at your pieday recipe now, although pie is not often on our menu for health reasons :(
Have a fab day
Hugs and blessings

Claire said...

Hey Janet, your photos are stunning. I love Dogwoods and seeing so many in the one area is just divine. What a lovely time of year in your corner of the globe.
I love Lilac too, it's a flower I have loved from my childhood along with Wisteria.

refresh reStyle said...

Janet, these photos are breathtaking! What a beautiful place to live! Thanks for sharing.
Debbie

Jennifer Juniper said...

Dogwoods and Lilacs are my favorite spring flowers! Really beautiful pictures - I finally got to come home with you!

Amy said...

I couldn't believe it when we saw another Warrenton VA blog...one of us Blogs from there as well!
www.11magnolialane.com

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Janet, your photos are amazing!!! I love dogwoods. :)

Jen said...

Visiting from Centsational Girl's link party. So pretty. I lived a few years in the south and, oh, how I miss those Springs when everything was covered in blooming dogwood and redbud. Thanks for letting me relive it for a moment.

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful - it's so hot and dry here right now. Love the lushness that surrounds you!

Paula@SweetPea said...

I look forward to spring in VA every year. Your pictures perfectly capture the beauty of Dogwood and Redbud in bloom.

Centsational Girl said...

STUNNING! That's all I can say! I adore Virginia and this is one of the reasons why, oh my, the dogwoods take your breath away. Thank you so much for sharing!
xo
Kate

Homestyling101 said...

I can practically smell the lilac over here in NY! Thanks for sharing your lovely town!

Janet (CottageKat) said...

Your photos are beautiful, I can't believe how much your area of Virginia looks like where I live in Oregon! We have both the pink and white dogwoods everywhere, and lilacs that bloom along the roadsides, I guess the main difference is that we may have more tall pines and fir trees mixed in with everything else and tons of rhododendrons in every color. I can hardly wait for spring to come again, it is only September now!

Atelier Conti said...

I remember the original, Janet! How could I forget? Just lovely. I wish it looked like that here, but sadly, not yet and in many ways, not ever!

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

Absolutely breathtaking beauty.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for such a beautiful tour!!! WE are so behind in Denmark, still very cold!! xoxox

Adri

Kathy A said...

Absolutely georgeous photos! Quite a change from our Arizona scenery! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

This is my first visit and I am so glad that I did! Your part of the country is so beautiful and romantic. Mine is also beautiful in its magisty. My daughter lives in Greensbor NC, we love to visit in the fall.

Linda said...

I want to walk along all those roads and see all the trees and houses. What a wonderful post!

Sandy said...

Love your area...simply MUST visit some day soon....
I will remember to come in the early spring. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous pics!
S

Jennifer Juniper said...

Lilacs are my fave spring flower. We had some pear blossoms here because of the warm weather, but it hit 24 degrees the other night and everything has stopped for a bit.

Lady Courtney said...

Nothing is as pretty as Spring in Virginia. But stop and enjoy, because it doesn't last forever. My pink dogwoods are blooming, and they are my absolute favorite! Oh, and I have a couple of Iris' blooming, a little early, but after the 80's we had, not surprised. Happy Spring Janet, donna :)

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