The flowering Dogwood is one of the most beautiful eastern North American trees with showy early spring flowrs, red fruit, and scarlet autum foliage.  Native Americans used the aromatic bark and roots as a remedy for malaria and extracted red dye from the roots.  The bloom color can be white, pink yellow and green.  The legend of the Dogwood tree holds that because of the strength of its wood, the tree provided the wood used to build the cross on which Jesus was crucified.  The petals of the dogwood actually form the shape of a cross.  Upon close examination, it can be seen that the blooms of the tree always have four petals.  Click on the picture to enlarge the view.