10/12/2026
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re highlighting flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), a beautiful small tree known for its showy spring blooms and bright red berries! 🤍🍒 While often admired for its ornamental beauty, flowering dogwood also supports wildlife by providing food and habitat for birds and other animals.
Dogwood species have long held practical and cultural importance for Indigenous peoples across North America. Depending on the Nation and region, dogwood has been used for purposes including toolmaking, traditional crafts, and medicine. Indigenous knowledge of native plants reflects generations of relationships with the land, and these traditions vary among communities.
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we recognize and honor Indigenous peoples’ enduring knowledge, cultures, and connections to the plants and ecosystems around us. 🌎💚
📸: chersee and maesmatcha (iNaturalist)
