One of our dogwoods is trying to bloom. The buds just open part way though and the leaves look terrible. I hope it is not it's way of saying the stress of the heat and drought this year has been too much for it. I sure hope it leafs out next spring. We need it for shade on the porch.

I have many dogwoods on my 13-acre property, but only one blooms each fall and only a portion of the tree; the rest of the tree blooms each spring.

I just read in Walter Reeves column in the AJC that regular azaleas blooming now (not encores) is from drought stress, but it should not prevent a full bloom next spring. Hopefully it is the same for the dogwoods.