Early Days

The sun came out today: welcome after so many drear days. With its light I can see the flush of green on the weeping willows and the first Iceland poppy bloom. The hazel catkins create rich texture and Lenten roses lavish attention on an abandoned space.

 Hazel Corylus avellana  The catkins are the male flowers which release pollen during winter.  By happy chance my little grove of four hazel trees, produce female and male flowers matched for pollination, and we get a good crop of nuts.

Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis  I no longer have the variety name for these, but they thrive on neglect!