Mock Orange or English Dogwood (Philadelphus spp.)

Sun to light shade Deciduous - loses its leaves in winter Blooms in April Frangrant, orange blossom-like smell Many species, some native to North America, some to Europe and Asia

	22 April 2008
	This mock orange was planted by my great grandparents, Jasper and Susanna Buchanan, by the smoke house, where they kept their meats. This must be winter, as the mock orange has no leaves, and Susanna is wearing a sweater. Jasper died in 1939, so the photo was taken before then.  Some of their grandchildren, all born before 1920, recall seeing the plant all their lives. They called it a "sweet shrub" because it's flowers had a sweet scent.   But the plant is not the actual plant called sweet shrub (which has red flowers), but a mock orange, or English dogwood.  It has white flowers that look like those of a dogwood, but smell like those of the orange tree. The plant is now under the care of their granddaughter-in-law, Mildred hall, and is located a few hundred feet from where it was in this photo. Mildred gave me some roots, and from those grew my plant.