A Dogwood Forum - how sweet it is!

Discussion in 'Cornus (dogwoods)' started by mr.shep, Jun 14, 2004.

  1. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
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    Location:
    San Joaquin Valley, California
    Before I became a member of these forums, I already knew
    about the UBC and had visited these forums off an on since
    around the year 2003. I was still, at that time, not all that
    wanting to join any more online forums of any kind for a
    long while.

    There were some posts in these forums that later interested
    me and I felt that two gentleman's posts in particular were
    truly excellent. I went through and read many of their posts
    in these forums and felt that they were people I could learn
    from even when I was down on certain plants then and to
    some extent I still am.

    There are two posts by Douglas that are now in this newly and
    most welcome Dogwood forum that I felt were exceptional
    when I first read them. I still feel that way and wish for more
    just like them. I can argue specific aspects of certain details
    in those posts as the content relates to us here but why do it
    when the content is right on the mark. There needs to be a
    better melding of the scientific knowledge with a nurseryman's
    accrued point of view from years of dealing with a particular
    plant. That will happen in time.

    Dogwoods can be a most difficult plant to grow. We've had
    our share of problems with these plants that many areas do not
    have to experience. Then again from one of Douglas' posts
    it becomes even more apparent that the East Coast of the US
    have had their fair share of problems that other areas do not
    generally have. For us here in the Sierra Nevada Mountain
    range we seldom see Anthracnose on our native Dogwoods,
    Cornus nuttallii. Our native trees are subject to drought
    conditions probably far more so than most areas so our
    trees here have to better adapt to our growing conditions
    than other areas. For varieties of Cornus florida grown
    here on the Valley floor or in the foothills and mountain
    ranges, we are much more susceptible to Dogwood blight
    which is without question the leading killer of our Dogwoods
    in the ground and grown in containers. There are some
    growing tricks we have learned along the way to have a
    better chance of sustaining the plant but they have all been
    learned from first hand knowledge and from analyzing the
    plants that have perished before us. From a nurseryman's
    point of view we will generally know how to grow the plant
    for our conditions better than someone from a scientific
    background. That is not to say that the people from the
    scientific community do not know how to grow the plant
    but the problematic area that comes to the forefront is
    that book knowledge tells us one thing but the book
    knowledge may not be enough to know in order to
    actively grow the plant and sustain it. Dogwoods has
    to be a hands on growing plant and some of us, myself
    included, came from a scientific background and lost
    several plants due to our over zealousness, being too
    hard headed and thinking what the good books tells
    us is enough to be able to grow this plant. We have
    learned the hard way that Dogwoods can be a most
    temperamental plant to grow and sustain. Dogwoods
    are one of my most favorite of all the flowering trees.
    I have been growing them for over 24 years and I am
    still learning the do's and the don'ts of growing them.

    I am not sure I can be much help in this forum but
    I will suggest that when people make their posts
    about the Dogwood not flowering, or the blighted
    growth or even why the petals of the flowers have
    stuck together and will not open, it will be rather
    important for us to try to help to know which
    Dogwood you are referencing. A white Dogwood
    question tells me nothing as the first thing I say to
    myself is how many Dogwoods do not have a white
    flower? I've seen nuttalliii have a pink border just
    like Cornus florida 'Jackie' has so I've seen some
    exceptions to the norm but I cannot help much if I
    do not know which Dogwood the plant is in question.

    Thank you guys so much from the UBC for the advent
    of this most important, to me at least, forum!

    Jim
     
  2. douglas

    douglas Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    princegeorge b.c
    Ditto here
    Regards Doug
     

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