Legend of the Dogwood Tree is a Southern favorite for Easter

One of the most unique of the old legends handed down in the South is the story of the Dogwood Tree.

This beautiful little tree explodes in white blossoms each spring and is one of the favorite blooming trees. It grows across the South and is popular as a yard tree, but also grows wild in the woods across the region.

The legend holds that the tree was once very large and because its wood was strong and sturdy, it provided building material for a variety of purposes. According to the story, it was the dogwood tree that provided the wood used to build the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Because of its role in the crucifixion, it is said that God both cursed and blessed the tree. It was cursed to forever be small, so that it would never grow large enough again for its wood to be used as a cross for a crucifixion. At the same time, however, the tree was blessed so that it would produce beautiful flowers each spring, just in time for Easter.

The most unique part of the legend is that 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. And the tips of each of the petals are indented, as if they bear a nailprint. There are even colors in the petals that bring to mind the drops of blood that spilled during the crucifixion.

To learn more about this unique legend, please visit our sister site on the historic community of Two Egg, Florida, at www.twoeggfla.com/dogwood and click the link for "Dogwood Tree Legend is a Two Egg Favorite." Here are links to some great places in the South to see dogwood trees in bloom:

• Muskogee Azalea Festival - Muskogee, Oklahoma
• Dogwood Canyon Nature Park - near Branson, Missouri
• Garvan Woodland Gardens - Hot Springs, Missouri
• Natchez Trace Parkway - Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee
• Dothan Area Botanical Gardens - Dothan, Alabama
• Maclay Gardens State Park - Tallahassee, Florida
• Callaway Gardens - Pine Mountain, Georgia

Noccalula Falls - Alabama's Romantic Legend of Love

Continuing our St. Valentine's month look at some of the most romantic spots in the South, the focus today is beautiful Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, Alabama.

Just off Interstate 59 between Birmingham and Chattanooga, the magnificent waterfall takes its name from the charming and romantic old Alabama legend of an ill-fated Cherokee princess. Her statue now graces the rim of the ravine created by the rushing water.

As the story goes, Noccalula was the daughter of a powerful Cherokee chief long before the first whites arrived in the area. She was in love with a brave but poor warrior from her own tribe. Her father, however, dreamed of expanding his power and influence by matching his daughter with the chief of a rival tribe.

Noccalula's father expelled her true love from his chiefdom and arranged for his daughter to marry the rival chief. On the day of her wedding, however, the heartbroken Cherokee princess took her own life by leaping from the waterfall. She committed suicide rather than marry a man she did not love.

The chief was so filled with remorse over his selfishness that had led to the death of his daughter that he decreed the waterfall should be named in her memory. It remains so to this day.

To learn more about Noccalula Falls and this fascinating old Alabama legend, please visit www.exploresourthernhistory.com/noccalula.

Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas

The view it right is from the point of Petit Jean Mountain at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas. This is the oldest state park in Arkansas and also one of the most beautiful.

In addition to the spectacular views from the mountain, Petit Jean also is noted for Cedar Falls, a magnificent year-round waterfall. Visitors also find unsual rock formations, beautiful scenery, outstanding hiking trails, a rock shelter noted for its centuries old Native American paintings as wall as campgrounds, picnic areas, cabins and a lodge.

The area is rich in history and is noted as the focal point for the "Legend of Petit Jean," one of the state's best known and favorite ghost stories and legends. To learn more about Petit Jean State Park and Petit Jean Mountain, please visit our Petit Jean pages at: http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/petitjean1.