Our weather system has thrown many surprises at us this last year, one has to wonder what is in store for us across the seasons in 2024.
Its a damp start, but mild. Though a cold snap is threatening.
In our garden there are some signs of spring. Bulbs are sprouting, some shrubs have buds forming…. but it is the Twisted Hazel that has a profusion of Catkins gracing its dark stems.
No matter if that can be interpreted as a good sign or a bad sign, right now it is a sign that spring is on the way – though the timetable has yet to be established 🙂
The first real full working week of 2024 is ahead of us….
So we best get prepared…. and as always remember to….
Please Remember ….
Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other
7th January
(C) David Oakes 2024
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
I’m always delighted with your pictures and today is no exception. I don’t know anything about Twisted Hazel nor Catkins…always a lesson for me!! Thanks, mj
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Thank you very much…… that catkins are the seed heads of various trees. The Hazel Tree catkin is different in so much as it has male and female seeds on the same head. The wind then does the rest. Other trees depend upon insects and birds (plus the wind) to mix the seeds from one cluster to another in the hope of finding the opposite sex. Hazel trees produce a lovely little nut in the autumn. The Twisted Hazel is a highbred, more compact, and with its curly branches, more decorative so makes it great for gardens. 🙂
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Love the second shot. The twists are mezmerizing
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It also produced some great nuts this lasy autumn, also a good crop 🙂
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