Pacific Dogwoods in Bloom

Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is also known as Mountain Dogwood and can be found along waterways in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, especially Yosemite Valley. As the waterfalls in the Valley burst forth in spring and swell the Merced River, Pacific Dogwoods echo back with a spectacular display.

These showy white blooms are actually modified bud scales (rather than petals like a traditional flower) and can measure up to eight inches across. The blooms appear before the leaves and usually cover the entire tree in a brilliant display.

Nothing marks the start of spring more to me than blooming Dogwoods in Yosemite. Yosemite Valley is spectacular any time of year, but seeing the entire Valley set alight with these blooming trees is life changing. My wife and I first experienced this on our honeymoon, so these blooms will forever hold a soft spot with us, as we try to return every year if we can.

It’s hard to predict when the bloom will occur each year; the year I took this shot, we were a little early. This tree caught my eye as I drove around the Valley, so I had to stop for a better look. I loved what I was seeing– standing under this beautiful tree with the granite walls of Yosemite Valley in the background, so I managed to get a couple of hand-held shots off before the wind came up.

To see more dogwood images, visit our photo gallery at www.paulzaretsky.com