Red Bud
The Red Bud tree has a bad rap. It is known as Cercis Canadensis. The Greek Word "kerkis" means "tree." So it is the "Canadian Tree" but it does not really favor Canada but instead we find the beautiful red bud in the Southern U.S.
Interestingly, the Red Bud tree is also known as the Judas Tree. The legend is that Judas Iscariot hung himself from a branch of the European species called Cercis siliquastrum. The latin word "siliquastrum" refers to the pods or fruits (siliquia) of the tree. In France, the tree is known as the "Tree from Judea (l'arbre de Judee). The belief is that the buds of the red bud were once white but after Judas hung himself from the tree, the buds have been bright red.
The tree buds in April often during or just after the Easter season.
I think being called the Judas tree is a bad rap for the tree. It is like naming your kid Benedict Arnold. (Bad in the U.S. but probably OK in England.)
The Red Bud is a beautiful tree and is in bloom as I write this. Some pictures are posted above.
The Red Bud is like many of us. Much of our lives we appear ordinary. When you see the Red Bud during 50 weeks of the year it is an ordinary tree. But God makes up for its ordinariness. Its wood is not even able to be used for many purposes because it is small and twisty. But for two weeks a year God crowns this tree with astounding glory. In April, the Red Bud goes center stage and becomes the most beautiful of trees.
Many of our lives reflect the red bud. A time comes that God brings out the glory even in us ordinary people and we have our moment of glory and those moments are memorable. Despite the fact that this tree is ordinary 50 weeks of the year, it is probably one of the most favorite trees for planting due to the beauty it has for two short weeks.
I like the other name for the Red Bud. It is called the Arbol del Amor. The tree of Love. It is not surprising that it has this name.
Judas tree or not. I love the Arbol del Amor. God made it. And I find it beautiful.
The Red Bud tree has a bad rap. It is known as Cercis Canadensis. The Greek Word "kerkis" means "tree." So it is the "Canadian Tree" but it does not really favor Canada but instead we find the beautiful red bud in the Southern U.S.
Interestingly, the Red Bud tree is also known as the Judas Tree. The legend is that Judas Iscariot hung himself from a branch of the European species called Cercis siliquastrum. The latin word "siliquastrum" refers to the pods or fruits (siliquia) of the tree. In France, the tree is known as the "Tree from Judea (l'arbre de Judee). The belief is that the buds of the red bud were once white but after Judas hung himself from the tree, the buds have been bright red.
The tree buds in April often during or just after the Easter season.
I think being called the Judas tree is a bad rap for the tree. It is like naming your kid Benedict Arnold. (Bad in the U.S. but probably OK in England.)
The Red Bud is a beautiful tree and is in bloom as I write this. Some pictures are posted above.
The Red Bud is like many of us. Much of our lives we appear ordinary. When you see the Red Bud during 50 weeks of the year it is an ordinary tree. But God makes up for its ordinariness. Its wood is not even able to be used for many purposes because it is small and twisty. But for two weeks a year God crowns this tree with astounding glory. In April, the Red Bud goes center stage and becomes the most beautiful of trees.
Many of our lives reflect the red bud. A time comes that God brings out the glory even in us ordinary people and we have our moment of glory and those moments are memorable. Despite the fact that this tree is ordinary 50 weeks of the year, it is probably one of the most favorite trees for planting due to the beauty it has for two short weeks.
I like the other name for the Red Bud. It is called the Arbol del Amor. The tree of Love. It is not surprising that it has this name.
Judas tree or not. I love the Arbol del Amor. God made it. And I find it beautiful.
Dogwood.
The flowering dogwood is formally known as Cornus florida. It is a deciduous tree from the dogwood family or cornaceae. Despite having the Florida name it is found through the eastern U.S. It is the state flower of North Carolina.
It is best known for its beautiful white and pinkish blossoms during the Easter season but it also has red fruits and crimson folliage during Autumn.
The legend is that the dogwood was the size of an oak tree at the time of the crucifixion and was selected to be the wood to be used by the cross. Because of the tree's sorrow and pity for the sufferings of Christ, Jesus promised tht it would never grow large enough again to be an instrument of suffering. Further the blossoms would be in the form of a cross with two long and two short petals. At the outer edge of each petal would be a nail print and in the center would be a crown of thorns.
There is a Poem that goes with the legend.
The Legend of the Dogwood
In Jesus time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.
'Twas strong and firm it's branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise that still holds good:
"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so
Slender and twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony.
-author unknown-
Two great trees. I still like the Red Bud best.
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