Pacific Dogwood Ornament: This one is for Mom
My elegant ornament of the Pacific Dogwood — the floral emblem of British Columbia — has special meaning for me.
I dedicate it to my mom and my grandmother. In addition to our shared love of flowers, I suspect it has something to do with the fact that dogwoods were also a favourite of my grannie, Doris.
Grannie chose Stylecraft’s "Midwinter Dogwood” as her everyday dinnerware set, so the association between her and dogwoods is ingrained in my mind.
I think this is why I gravitated to the rarer four-petal design. Pacific Dogwoods can have anywhere from four to six petals (technically, they're not petals but bracts), and most have five. I'm sentimental and the dogwood on my Grannie's dishes had four petals. So, so does my ornament.
My grandma, Doris Needham, loved dogwoods.
Symbolism of the dogwood flower
I also learned this Easter of the dogwood's symbolism in the Christian faith. The lines between the four-petaled dogwood form the shape of cross, thus symbolizing the death and resurrection of Jesus. It makes me wonder if perhaps that played a part in my Grannie's choice of her dinnerware pattern, since she had a strong faith.
All-white Christmas tree
I can also imagine how gorgeous evergreen Christmas tree might look decorated entirely in white with these Pacific Dogwood ornaments!
