Dogwood days in Perry

Like I said last week, with a little help from Louie Armstrong, it’s Spring in Middle Georgia, and it’s time to come out for our dogwoods.

When we moved here from Detroit in May of 1971, we missed the Dogwood Festival, but we were in time for the peach blossoms, and that was enough to make us think we had died and had gone to heaven. Little did we know we had missed one of the sacred passages of Spring: the iconic Dogwoods of Middle Georgia.

Those graceful trees have been stealing hearts around here long before any festival put them on the map. The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a native treasure of the eastern United States, right at home in our red Georgia clay. It’s one of the first to wake up in spring—blooming in late March or early April before most other trees even think about leafing out.

What look like big white (or sometimes soft pink) petals are actually bracts—modified leaves that protect the tiny, true flowers clustered in the center like a little green button. Biologists love them because they’re an understory tree, thriving in the dappled shade of taller oaks and pines, and they turn a fiery red in autumn before dropping their leaves for winter.

But around these parts, the dogwood carries an even deeper story. There’s an old Southern legend—passed down through generations—that ties the tree straight to the cross of Christ. Tradition says the dogwood was once a tall, strong tree, mighty enough to be chosen for the timber of Jesus’ crucifixion. After that sorrowful day, the story goes, the tree was forever changed: it would never grow large again, its branches would be twisted and slender, and its blossoms would forever form a cross—four bracts with nail scars at the tips and a crown-of-thorns cluster in the center.

Whether you take it as a legend or a lesson, it’s a beautiful reminder that even the humblest things in nature can point us toward something sacred.

That same spirit of celebration and community is exactly what gave birth to the Perry Dogwood Festival. Back in the late 1980s, a visionary local lady named Kate Noblitt looked at the spectacular dogwood blooms lining the streets of Historic Downtown Perry and thought, “We ought to throw a party for this!”

What started as a simple idea to honor the arrival of spring has grown into one of Middle Georgia’s most beloved traditions. Hosted by the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival quickly became a two-day love letter to small-town life—arts and crafts, good food, live music, and folks of all ages strolling under those flowering canopies.

This year marks something special: the 37th Annual Perry Dogwood Festival, set for April 11-12, 2026, right in the heart of Historic Downtown Perry. Mark your calendars now, friends. Saturday runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.—plenty of time for seniors to enjoy it at a comfortable pace. Expect more than 150 vendors with everything from handmade jewelry and pottery to kettle corn and funnel cakes. There’s a dedicated Kids’ Zone with bounce houses and face painting, plus an Adult Zone for those of us who just want to sit, sip sweet tea, and people-watch.

And this year brings some fresh excitement! The Rotary Club is hosting a Fishing Tournament Saturday morning (perfect for the grandkids or any fishing fans in the family), and the brand-new Dogwood Dash 5K kicks things off at 8 a.m. on Saturday for the more energetic among us. Free live entertainment will fill the City Hall Lawn stage both days with local musicians—bluegrass, gospel, and classic Southern sounds that’ll have you tapping your toes. It’s all free to attend, parking is easy, and the whole downtown transforms into one big blooming block party.

After 55 years in Middle Georgia, I still get that same heavenly feeling every time the dogwoods pop. They remind us that no matter how many springs we’ve seen, each one is a gift—a chance to slow down, breathe the fresh air, visit with neighbors, and remember that beauty and community are still blooming all around us.

So grab your walking shoes (or your favorite folding chair), load up the grandkids or a carload of friends, and head to Perry on April 11-12. You won’t want to miss this sacred passage of spring. The dogwoods are waiting, and so is a whole lot of Georgia hospitality.

See you under the blossoms!

Thanks for reading All About Seniors. See you next week!

Bill Milby is a Director of Visiting Angels® of Central Georgia, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com or search for us at  https://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofCentralGA