White and Shadow

American Dogwood -- this understory forest tree (4 -10 meter tall) was once the Springtime queen of Appalachian and Piedmont forests: an absolute blizzard of white blossoms in the woods, stretching as far as the eye could see. In the past 30 years, Anthracnose fungus has wiped them out (Over-browsing by Whitetail Deer accentuated their demise, in areas where the deer are protected from hunters.)
In my Piedmont Maryland woodlot, only two remain, both where they get almost full-day sun ... I think the sunlight keeps them dry and retards the growth of the fungus.