June 25, 2026
Good morning!
It’s Thursday—and we can’t go back up to the house until we pay our respects to another, even more dear friend than any of the peonies. This kousa dogwood was born in my aunt’s garden and came east with us in a berry basket nearly 30 years ago. For the first 13 years, she showed no desire to do anything but put down roots. And then…flowers!
Last year, her branches were so laden with creamy white bracts that they almost glowed in the dark. It must’ve taken a lot out of her, especially during a drought year. Last fall, when it came time to set the buds for this year’s bloom, she decided to hold back and get some well-deserved rest.
“The pause—that impressive silence, that eloquent silence, that geometrically progressive silence which often achieves a desired effect where no combination of words, howsoever felicitous, could accomplish it.”
—Mark Twain
Onwards,
Clara
Flowering trees/plants blossom more profusely when stressed (by drought, etc) so they can produce more seeds. May our true beauty shine like them when we are stressed!
I visited your photo from her blooming last summer. Thank you for including your link. Good Heavens! Such a generous bounty of blooms! No wonder she's opted for a rest this year. She makes me feel better that, in my own ways, I am doing something similar this summer... Thank you!