Q: A few years ago a dogwood tree began to grow in one of our fallow flower beds. I have seen many dogwoods throughout my life so I knew the leaves of this strange tree were larger than a normal dogwoods’. Then a few years later, when the tree began to blossom, I noticed that the blooms had a wonderful strong scent for 3 or 4 days and were twice the size of a normal dogwood bloom. Has anyone else encountered such a dogwood or do I really have a truly unique gift from God in my backyard?

A: A fragrant dogwood is unusual. I found a single cultivar that’s said to be fragrant: ‘Fragrant Cloud’.

Take the flowers into a closed room and let them set awhile…then smell them and report.