Dogwood

the small gree flower of the Dogwood.

"Y" branch attached to "Y" branch

Flowering Dogwood (American Dogwood)

Cornus florida

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Pics from serveral different years, though most in the first week of April.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida

Question: How do you tell a dogwood?

Answer: by its bark.

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Corny joke aside, the easiest way to tell a Dogwood (after the flower) is the shape of its branch. Dogwoods tend to produce a wishbone shaped branch, with "Ys" growing out of "Y's" - so they are pretty easy to spot, even without leaf. Truth is, the thing we call the Dogwood flower is not a true flower. And the white petals are not real petals. Technically they are "Bracks", and the flowers -- a collection of them -- much like the center of daisy, is comprised of the small flowers. In the case of the Dogwood, the real flower is almost inconspicuous and green! (See second frame above)