After a remarkably cool season a walk about town yet reveals the burgeoning buds of spring.Of the two species of maple in Williamsburg the red maples are the first to bloom. John Bricklell, M.D. described the two types in The Natural History of North-Carolina published in Dublin in the year 1737 observing, “The Maple Tree, of which there are two sorts, the first generally grows in the plain; the second grows in the Hilly and Mountainous parts” The first is the Red Maple and the second is the Sugar. Both types he observes “make delightful and refreshing Shades to sit under from the Heat of the Sun.”
They also provide many useful properties, both to the joiner and the apothecary as Mr. Brickell further explains, “Of the wood is made Wainscots, Tables, Trenchers, Dishes, Spinning-wheels, and the like; the leaves and Roots are Astringent, stop all sorts of Fluxes, and the Root helps Pains of the side and Liver.”
Mr. Jefferson has proposed that the Sugar Maple may even provide a source for that most coveted condiment currently obtained from the West Indies sugar plantations at great expense and greater misery to the poor souls consigned to create it.
On my way about Palace Green I stopped to see the garden of Mr. Wythe, an eminent lawyer, professor, tutor to Thomas Jefferson, and first Virginia signer of the Declaration of Independence, a validation of his former pupil’s master work. In his side yard I paused to admire a Cornelian Cherry in full bloom.
This European cousin of our own native dogwood is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring. Our native dogwood has yet to bloom but the flower buds fatten daily and will soon grace our woodlands with its papery white blooms.
Mr. Brickell likewise gives us a use to this native beauty that all good mothers should know: “The Bark of the Root of this Tree, is frequently made use of by way of Infusion, and given to Children to kill the Worms.”
Dogwood trees are native to Virginia, are they not? Do we know when they were first used as a specimen/decorative tree? Was this done in the 18th century, or did it start more in the 20th century?
Most humbly,
Ryan
Dear Ryan,
Dogwoods are, indeed, native to Virginia and were one of the first ornamental trees sent back to England. We even knew of the pink dogwood, or so the rumor goes. In 1737 Peter Collinson, a London merchant wrote to John Custis, in Williamsburg, concerning a pink Dogwood that Mark Catesby had found while staying in Williamsburg. “Mr. Catesby Gives His Humble service and is under Great Concern for fear the race of that Curious peach colored Dogwood is lost without you have One in your Garden.” Custis replied the next year, “as for the peach colored Dogwood Mr. Catesby mentions, I had two in my garden but they never bloomed, I sent them to you by Capt. Cant with some other trees; but it was his hard fare and ours to have the ship overset the voyage: and so lost all. I have enquired of all our woodsmen and offered a reward but could never see any myself nor could any of those people that often range the woods; they are all of the same opinion as I am that it is the common dogwood in decay which makes them look reddish.” Of course we now know that Mr. Catesby was correct in that pink dogwoods do occur, although infrequently, in the Virginia woods.
Yr. obedient servant,
Wesley Greene