Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) blossom in Yosemite Valley, May 15, 2025

 There's rarely a bad time to visit Yosemite Valley, but one of the better times is when the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) tree is blooming. This usually happens from late April to mid-May, so many summer visitors to the park don't get to see this floral display.

The showiest part of the blossom are actually bracts that attach below the flowers of this tree. The flowers themselves are in the tight cluster in the middle.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Pacific Dogwood bloom in Yosemite

In late spring, usually peaking in May, Pacific dogwoods (Cornus nuttalli) bloom in Yosemite National Park.  This photo is of a dogwood blooming in Yosemite Valley around the Majestic Yosemite (formerly the Ahwahnee) Hotel.  Bob took it just after a light rain had swept through the valley.

Besides May being a good time to visit Yosemite to see the dogwoods blooming, it's also a great time to see waterfalls pouring off the granite walls of Yosemite Valley after a good rainy season.

The dogwood "flower" actually consists of a tight cluster of tiny flowers in the middle with several large white bracts that look like petals.  The leaves of dogwoods exhibit what's called "arcuate venation."  This means that the veins on its leaves curve toward the leaf edge instead of going in a rather straight path from the main stem toward the leaf edge.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.