Yay, love this! Happy to find another catkin enthusiast too - I’ve taken so many photos of hazels and alders the last few weeks… I first became aware of the female hazel flowers a couple of years ago and it’s been my mission to get a good phone-camera photo ever since - they are otherworldly treasures! My best attempt is in my latest newsletter 🤓
'Otherworldly treasures' is spot on! It's funny how many of us seem to have only noticed them for the first time over the past couple of years. I'll definitely check out your photos...
Yes, I can’t remember whether I randomly noticed or went looking for them, but I wonder whether there was a bit on Winter/Springwatch or something like that?
What a beautifully detailed post on catkins! I never realized how intricate and fascinating these tiny floral structures could be until I took your advice to look a little closer. Your explanation really brought the magic of nature to life for me. I’ve found similar valuable content over at www.urbangardenguides.com, which I highly recommend checking out as well. Keep up the great work—your posts are always a pleasure to read!
Will keep an eye out in Winchester this weekend and see what's happening further south. Love the purple of the alder catkins, so hard to photograph though!
My mum showed me female hazel flowers for the first time last year - she'd only just noticed them herself, despite having had a dwarf hazel tree in the middle of her front garden for the best part of half a century! Now, I suddenly see them everywhere.
Yay, love this! Happy to find another catkin enthusiast too - I’ve taken so many photos of hazels and alders the last few weeks… I first became aware of the female hazel flowers a couple of years ago and it’s been my mission to get a good phone-camera photo ever since - they are otherworldly treasures! My best attempt is in my latest newsletter 🤓
'Otherworldly treasures' is spot on! It's funny how many of us seem to have only noticed them for the first time over the past couple of years. I'll definitely check out your photos...
Yes, I can’t remember whether I randomly noticed or went looking for them, but I wonder whether there was a bit on Winter/Springwatch or something like that?
What a beautifully detailed post on catkins! I never realized how intricate and fascinating these tiny floral structures could be until I took your advice to look a little closer. Your explanation really brought the magic of nature to life for me. I’ve found similar valuable content over at www.urbangardenguides.com, which I highly recommend checking out as well. Keep up the great work—your posts are always a pleasure to read!
I can’t wait to go out and look for these… I have never noticed the little red flowers before, they so vivid!
They are hard to miss despite being so vivid! Let me know if you find some...
Will keep an eye out in Winchester this weekend and see what's happening further south. Love the purple of the alder catkins, so hard to photograph though!
soooo tricky to photograph! Have a lovely time in Winchester!
Saw lots of lovely stuff but no hazel flowers as yet! Tons of blackthorn out though ☺️
ooh lovely! I saw my first blossom at the weekend, argh!
My mum showed me female hazel flowers for the first time last year - she'd only just noticed them herself, despite having had a dwarf hazel tree in the middle of her front garden for the best part of half a century! Now, I suddenly see them everywhere.
Yes I think I only noticed them for the first time last year roo funnily enough. So easily missed for something so vivid! Thanks for sharing, Dan!