ROUND LEAVED DOGWOOD

ROUND LEAVED DOGWOOD BERRIES,,,

...RIPE NOW...

FLOWER HEADS AND DISTINCTIVE LEAVES (Google photo)...

...FALL LEAF COLOR (Google photo)

Monday, 7:45 AM.  60 degrees F at the ferry dock, 56 on the back porch.  Wind SW, mostly calm with occasional light gusts.  The sky is clear with a few clouds here and there, the humidity 84%.  The barometer is falling some, now at 29.97". Highs will be around 80 today and tomorrow, then cooling with a chance of a thunderstorm Wednesday.

   I am more and more impressed with the native round leaved dogwood, Cornus rugosa, in the Dogwood Family (Cornaceae).  An under story shrub of deciduous and coniferous forests of the  north, it grows in full sun to semi-shade.  It flowers well, has fine orange to pink to red fall leaf color, and interesting, beautiful berries, just now ripening.  The bluish white to lead colored berries are borne on  red pedicels which may also have red aborted berries, all very pleasingly colorful.  Round leaved dogwood has opposite leaves and maroon colored branches and distinctively veined, entire leaves.

   I have used this shrub more and more in landscaping, and find it beautiful and dependable.