Thursday, May 17, 2018

The Pink Dogwoods

This pretty Pink Dogwood Tree
 is in the front yard of the home we built 34 years ago.
Every year when it blooms I think about all the years we have shared here.
The 2 boys we raised here and all of the memories made here.
Only part of the tree blooms now and I wonder if that symbolizes what is gone.
Gone are those little smiling, 
sometimes mischievous faces that use to live here...
the dirty hands, muddy sneakers, baseball caps, the soccer balls, baseballs,
little trucks, big trucks, swings and slides.








I miss the half of the Dogwood Tree that does not bloom anymore.
But the branches are happy and healthy, and they have beautiful green leaves on them.

21 comments:

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It's interesting what you say about children moving on. In today's world that often means so far from home that children and parents rarely see each other. I know a family, hard-working immigrants who did the very best they could for their children, put them all through university - one has a Ph.D in pyschology and lives on the west coast, another is a medical doctor in northern Alberta and the third lives in France. All the celebrations - Christmas, Thanksgiving etc. - come and go without the entire family ever getting together. Sometimes the parents visit one of their kids, sometimes one of the kids comes home but I don't even know the last time that the whole family was together. Sadly it will probably be at the funeral of one of the parents..........and maybe not even then.

Sally said...

Such beautiful sentiments about your boys who are now men. I know you must miss those days.

The dogwood is beautiful, Debbie. Your entire home and surroundings, the yard, everything so lovely like you.
xoxo

Silver in AZ said...

A very lovely front yard, and I'm glad for your memories and the glorious tree that inspires them, half-blooming or not. :)

eileeninmd said...

Hello Debbie, I do love the pink dogwoods. They are my favorite. Your front yard is beautiful. Enjoy your day!

Екатерина Балагурова said...

Imagine how amazing they look live, if the photos are so beautiful!

Laura. M said...

Precious memories you have of that beautiful tree Debbie. Surely it will give you many more. The flowers are very cute.Besos.

italiafinlandia said...

The tree is indeed beautiful... and your words made me think: life is now.

Latane Barton said...

I believe you are right, Debbie. That tree is missing those boys. Isn't this empty nest something, now? Weird yet good.

Pam said...

I wonder why only 1/2 blooms? Maybe you are correct in your thinking of that. Dogwood is a beautiful tree, esp the pink. Beautiful pics also Debbie.

Judy said...

Do you have to prune out the part that isn't blooming to force it to bloom more?
I know nothing about Dog Woods, except they are pretty. We have white wild ones around here.

Ruth Hiebert said...

The flowers are gorgeous.Your yard looks amazing.

Unknown said...

This is strange, Debbie, but the part that does bloom is still so very beautiful.
Dogwood flowers are one of my very favorite spring flowers.
Ours are blooming now too.
xo.

Jill said...

WOW! Debbie! I would love to have these hanging on my walls. You need to frame them! I love your memories surrounding that tree and especially adore your comparison of the side not blooming signifying what has moved on. *HUGS*

Marie Smith said...

The dogwood is gorgeous, a testament to the love that it was witness to in your family. It has aged but not forgotten its essence, like the people who lived there!

Sue (this n that) said...

Such an exquisite tree Debbie. I love that your beautiful memories are entwined in it like that.

Changes in the wind said...

Beautiful tree and memories:)

Brian King said...

The part that blooms is gorgeous! Really nice color!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Times change and life goes on!! Lots of history in those beautiful blossoms.

Angie said...

The close-ups, and the lighting - oh my! The essence of spring … I have seen the 'partial blooming' phenomenon with other dogwoods. Any theories why this happens? Have a beautiful weekend!

Karen Lakis said...

Oh my - bittersweet, I understand how you feel. I would probably think the same thing. The flowers on the part of the tree that blooms are beautiful - wonderful, beautiful memories of your life with your family. When my daughters were babies, we planted a tree for each of them - and then moved a couple years later. We did the same in the next house, as our daughters were still very young - and then moved a couple years later... When we moved from our latest house, my oldest daughter - now 32 - threw up her arms and exclaimed "you two are nomads!! - my friends parents still live in the same house they grew up in!" Sigh - it's true. I hope our early trees are still blooming, much as our daughters have bloomed. Your yard and home are beautiful - and even that half blooming tree holds beautiful memories!

LeAnn said...

Oh, the photos of the Dogwood tree blossoms are lovely. You home is beautiful and the Landscaping is spectacular. Homes do have so many memories. I like you do have those fond memories of children running to and fro.
Sending loving thoughts and hugs your way!